My tongue is often covered with a white coating. I trust that I have proper hygiene but brushing and scrubbing the tongue only helps for a while then it returns. What do I do?

Question

It is basically that of the degree of keratin accumulation. With coated tongue, the accumulation is not severe. Generally the most effective treatment for this condition is the daily use of a tongue scraper, which removes the dead keratinized cells from the top of the tongue. Stopping or reducing any habits that might cause irritation (smoking, regular consumption of soft drinks) to the top of the tongue also usually helps reduce the problem. Of course it is important to realize that this is a harmless condition, and if it doesn?t cause too many symptoms, it really doesn?t require treatment.

Yasmin Asma Zohara · Accepted Answer

It is basically that of the degree of keratin accumulation. With coated tongue, the accumulation is not severe. Generally the most effective treatment for this condition is the daily use of a tongue scraper, which removes the dead keratinized cells from the top of the tongue. Stopping or reducing any habits that might cause irritation (smoking, regular consumption of soft drinks) to the top of the tongue also usually helps reduce the problem. Of course it is important to realize that this is a harmless condition, and if it doesn?t cause too many symptoms, it really doesn?t require treatment.