Your child's white tongue may be harmless, or it may be a signal of infection.
If you've noticed a white coating on your child's tongue, you may be concerned--and rightfully so. Although most white coatings are due to harmless conditions, other causes of white tongue can be dangerous, but treatable. The appearance of the coating is key to identifying its cause.
Oral Thrush
Perhaps the most common cause of a white coated tongue in kids is oral thrush, or candidiasis. It appears as white patches, which often appear curd-like, similar to the texture and appearance of cottage cheese. Babies and toddlers often have this condition, which is caused by a buildup of yeast organisms in the mouth.
Dehydration and Fever
Dehydration and fever can dry out the saliva that bathes your child's tongue. When the tongue is dry, many cells near the surface die and become lodged between the papillae. It is important to make sure that your child is drinking plenty of fluids, whether the white coating is due to dehydration or fever.
Inflammatory Disease
Oral lichen planus is an autoimmune disorder, which is usually chronic. It causes white patches to appear on the cheeks, and sometimes on the tongue and other areas of the mouth. Although it can be painful or uncomfortable, oral lichen planus usually can be managed with medication or home remedies.
Harmless Conditions
A white tongue coating also can result from benign, or relatively harmless, conditions. Geographic tongue is a condition that appears as smooth red patches interspersed with a white coating. Although this is relatively harmless, it can cause some discomfort. Leukoplakia, a condition in which white patches form on the inside of your child's mouth, is usually benign, as well, but in rare cases can mark an early stage of cancer. In addition, if your child is taking certain medications or breathes excessively through his mouth, either may cause a white coating to appear on the tongue.
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