If white spots are noticeable on your tongue, then it indicates that something is wrong. While the condition is harmless, it might indicate inflamed papillae. So, let’s have a look at the causes of white tongue, the risks factors and natural ways on how to get rid of white tongue permanently.
Read Also: Natural Ways on How to Get Rid of Lie Bumps on Your Tongue
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What Does it Mean When your Tongue is White?
A healthy tongue normally appears pink in color. But, when the tongue color changes to white, this may indicate swelling around the area. Most of the time, the condition doesn’t last for a long time. Food particles, dead cells and bacteria may be observed around the inflamed papillae.
The most common cause of white tongue is dehydration. The risk increases if you are not brushing or cleaning the tongue regularly. So, here are the primary causes of white tongue;
Causes of White Tongue
- Infection due to candida, a fungus that’s the root cause of yeast infection.
- Dry mouth when you haven’t been drinking plenty of water during the day.
- Reaction due to medicines, antibiotics or steroids you have been taking for some time.
- Bad habits like smoking or chewing tobacco several times during the day.
- Eating spicy foods like Habanero and jalapeno peppers.
- Congenital heart disease as observed in adults.
- Bacterial infections due to syphilis, AIDS, and leukoplakia which is nothing but excess growth of cells in the mouth.
If you come across white spots on the back of your tongue, then it also indicates overgrowth and swelling of nodules / finger like projections.
White Spots on Tongue Pictures


How to Get Rid of White Tongue Naturally at Home?
The tongue is always considered as a vital part of the body. Depending on the color change, the condition may be diagnosed as serious or benign. So, before the condition become severe, you can consider the home remedies and natural ways on how to get rid of white bumps or thrush or spots on tongue compiled below;
Lemon
Owing to the natural antibacterial properties, lemon helps in clearing away fungal or bacterial growth. While you might use lemon juice to brush the affected area, you can always try out a remedy with an additional ingredient called as baking soda.
Initially, you need to mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of baking soda to form a thick paste. Later, you need to take some paste and apply it on the area and brush the tongue at least once during the day. Follow the steps for a week or o until you are confident that the white spots have disappeared completely.
Read Also: Lime vs Lemon – Differences and Health Benefits
Yogurt
Due to the presence of probiotics, yogurt always helps to get rid of bacterial and fungal infection. The good bacteria strains help to combat the infection caused due to fungus and bacteria.
As you start off, you need to take 1tablespoon of yogurt and swish your mouth for some time. Later, you need to scrape the area with a tongue cleaner, spit the saliva, and rinse the mouth with some quantity of warm water.
Don’t forget to follow the remedy daily till the dehydrated tongue is treated properly.
Turmeric
Yet another popular remedy for getting rid of the infection is turmeric. While the powder helps to remove the white coat, the person would be able to improve oral health and keep the mouth fresh.
There are two ways in which the substance can be used to get rid of white tongue.
#1 Lemon & Turmeric
While turmeric has the potential to curb fungal growth, a little bit of lemon juice can certainly help to exfoliate dead cells on the tongue’s surface.
So as you proceed with the remedy, you need to mix half a tablespoon of turmeric powder with three to four drops of lemon juice. Soon after you have applied the paste on the area, you should scrub the area after 5 minutes. In the end, you have to rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water.
Do follow the remedy twice in the morning and before going to bed. This would surely help to get rid of the white spots.
#2 Turmeric Mouthwash
Another way for treating white tongue is through turmeric. Just as you use a mouthwash, you need to add 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder to one cup of warm water. After preparing the solution, you need to gargle at least twice in a day.
Do remember to follow the remedy only when you have finished brushing your teeth.
Read Also: 6 Surprising Health Benefits of Turmeric
Fruits
If you are finding the best way on how to get rid of white bumps on the tongue, then certain fruits can help. So, as you consider fruits for the home remedy, you have to source strawberry or apples.
#1 Strawberry Paste
Since strawberries are a rich source of citric acid, then help to make the teeth white and cleaning the white spots.
So, to start off, you need to mash two ripe and juicy strawberries and prepare a paste. Once you apply a certain amount of paste, you need to brush the tongue with a gentle hand. Soon after 5 minutes, you must rinse the mouth with warm water.
Try repeating the remedy at least once during the day. This would surely resolve the problem of white bumps on the tongue.
#2 Apple
Just like strawberries, apples are extremely effective in restoring oral hygiene. So, first you need a ripe apple, peel the fruit well, and form a pulp with the help of a blender. Later, you should apply the paste, wait for a few minutes and scrape off the area with a tongue cleaner.
NOTE: For better results, you must follow the remedy once during the day. Apart from forming a paste, you can also include the fruits in your diet so that the infection doesn’t occur once again.
Read Also: Here is Why the Apple is Truly the Fruit from the Heavens!
Neem / Indian Lilac
Neem has the power for clearing away fungal and bacterial infection along with white tongue thrush. Besides, the extract helps in purifying the blood and in flushing out harmful toxins. Moving ahead, the remedy assures you that the infection would not occur again.
Firstly, you need to boil a handful of Neem leaves in 1 cup of water till the concoction reduces to half a cup. Soon after the solution cools down, you have to rinse your mouth thoroughly for around 20 to 30 seconds.
For treating the affected area effectively, try repeating the remedy at least two times during the day.
Aloe Vera
It’s always evident that Aloe Vera is a much better remedy. As the healing process moves on swiftly, the plant helps to get rid of the infection and inflammation around the tongue.
Initially, you need to mix two tablespoons of Aloe Vera with warm water. Afterwards, you should apply one tablespoon of the gel and wait for a couple of minutes. In addition, you need to swish your mouth with the Aloe Vera concoction for some more minutes. As soon as you spit out the solution, rinse the mouth with lukewarm water and drink Aloe Vera juice.
See to it that you follow the remedy after every two days. This would serve to get rid of the white spots on the tongue.
Vegetable Glycerin
If you are wondering the best way to get rid of a white tongue, then vegetable glycerin would surely work. As you take 1 tablespoon of glycerin for 5 minutes, brush the tongue gently with a toothbrush. Later, you should remember to rinse the mouth with one cup of warm water.
Unless you are confident that the white spots have vanished, you need to repeat the remedy frequently.
Treating The White Tongue With Oils
Oil pulling can certainly help to treat white tongue. Apart from treating oral thrush, you would be in a better position to get rid of yeast infection and remove toxins completely.
Coconut oil
When you think about using Coconut oil, you need to swish your mouth with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Continue rinsing the mouth till the oil turns milky white in color. Later, you need to swish the mouth with lukewarm water. But, before that, you need to spit the oil in the wash basin.
For best results, try following the remedy every day as soon as you wake up in the morning.
Read Also: How To Get Coconut Oil Out Of Hair (#8 Proven Natural Ways)
Peppermint oil
Known for its antibacterial properties, Peppermint oil not only helps in treating mouth sores but also restoring the pink color across the tongue.
So, as you start off, you need to mix two drops of Peppermint oil with 1 cup of warm water. Alternatively, you can add peppermint oil on the toothpaste and scrub the tongue gently for 10 minutes. As time passes by, you should make sure to rinse the mouth with warm water. Follow the steps for just a single instance daily to perceive the desirable results.
Regardless of the oil you think of using, you should never swallow the oil. This is because the solution can affect the digestion system to a considerable extent.
Garlic
Due to the presence of Ajoene, Garlic always aids to get rid of the fungal infection. As you crush two to three Garlic cloves, apply the paste on the tongue and wait for 10 minutes. Afterwards, you need to rinse the mouth with warm water and keep following the steps day after day. Ideally, you should try the remedy twice during the day so that the swelling subsides.
How to Get Rid of White Tongue With Salt?
The abrasive nature of salt works wonders to remove the white spots on the tongue. You first need to take a pinch of salt, dip the toothbrush in water, and sprinkle the salt. With a little bit of salt, you need to clean the tongue for twice in the morning and at night. For combating the infection, you can also damp the toothbrush bristles with drops of lemon juice.
Just like oil pulling, you can also gargle with salt water after mixing 1 spoon of salt with1 cup of water. Try the remedy for six to seven times to remove the white spots on the tongue.
5 Tips for Preventing White Tongue
Now that you are aware of the remedies, you should follow certain tips so that the issue doesn’t occur again.
#Tip 1 – Don’t forget to maintain oral health. It’s always a good idea to brush as well as floss your teeth twice during the day. For cleaning the tongue, you can either use the cleaner or a clean toothbrush.
#Tip 2 – Don’t forget to brush your teeth after having a meal. If you fail to do so, then the food particles can affect the teeth and leave behind white residue on the tongue.
#Tip 3 – Avoid eating sweet foodstuffs and dairy products. While these can cause stains on the teeth and tongue, they might aggravate the tongue condition.
#Tip 4 – Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Such habits can make the inflammation severe and lead to bacterial buildup.
#Tip 5 – Finally, you should always drink a lot of water throughout the day. Food items rich in fiber can help to clear away white spots on the tongue. Adding fruits and vegetables like apples, strawberries, guava and carrots to the diet would also help.
In case the problem persists for a long time, then you should contact the doctor and seek advice immediately.