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5 Home Remedies To Help You Get Rid Of White Tongue
By: Kratika Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:53:45
White tongue is a term used to describe any area of the tongue that has a grayish-white coating on it. The entire tongue may be coated, or the coating may appear in patches. There are a few different reasons for a white tongue, and each has a specific treatment. A white tongue is usually a harmless symptom but, in rare cases, it can indicate a serious condition.
# Gargle with salt water
You can make your own chemical-free mouthwash at home by simply mixing salt in water.
When you rinse your mouth with a saline solution, the coarse granules of sea salt or kosher salt provide a gentle scrubbing action against the tongue.
Swishing this solution in your mouth helps dislodge the plaque, food particles, and dead cells that have accumulated on your tongue, which are eventually spat out.
Using a saline gargle to flush out the impurities from your oral cavity may also help improve your overall oral well-being in general, making you less prone to problems such as a white tongue.
- Mix a few teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water.
- Gargle with this salt water thoroughly and then spit it out.
- Repeat several times a day until you are satisfied with the results.
# Consume probiotics
Probiotics are generally considered important agents for the improvement of gut health as they aid digestion, but they are also a good remedy for the white tongue.
According to one literature review, probiotics may help improve oral health by inhibiting the growth or colonization of disease-causing pathogens in the mouth.
This beneficial effect can be attributed to the presence of L. acidophilus and B. lactis cultures in fermented products such as probiotics. However, such an effect needs to be verified by further scientific investigation.
A number of dietary sources can supplement your probiotic needs, which largely include fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, and tempeh.
# Use a tongue scraper
Maintaining proper oral hygiene is vital to a healthy tongue. In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth, one complementary step that you should include in your oral hygiene regimen is tongue scraping.
This method is especially effective in reducing and removing any debris and bacteria that settle in the oral cavity.
A study found that tongue cleaning reduced the amount of bacterial accumulation in the tongue coating.
Scrape your tongue gently but thoroughly, from back to front, using a tongue cleaner or a soft toothbrush.
Do not overdo it by applying too much pressure, which can lead to open wounds, making you susceptible to infection. Also, do not insert the scraper so far back that it causes a gag reflex.
# Baking soda scrub
Adding food-grade baking soda to a toothbrush and scrubbing the tongue, teeth, and gums may help reduce the bacteria that cause a white tongue.
# Raw garlic
Eating raw garlic may help the body fight off infections caused by Candida. Research noted that a compound in garlic called allicin was effective at fighting off the harmful strain Candida albicans.
People can eat a clove of raw garlic whole each day or chop it up and eat it with a little olive oil to reduce the risk of white tongue.