Contents
A yellow coating is, first of all, evidence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. So, the lighter and thinner the plaque is, the earlier the disease is. Yellowing of a small thickness with a yellow coating should be taken as evidence of the penetration of infectious foci into the body. It is normal for the coating to turn slightly yellow in very hot weather.
Causes of yellow coating on the tongue
So, the main factors for the appearance of a yellow coating on the tongue are as follows:
Problematic functioning of the digestive tract – Speaking about the gastrointestinal tract, a certain trend should be noted. So, when the patient’s tongue is yellow on all sides, but the plaque itself does not differ in density, but is translucent and can be quickly removed, this is the first sign of the presence of toxins in the body.
In the case of a dark yellow or yellow-gray coating, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, everything is much more serious. Experts assure that the darker the shade of plaque on the tongue and the higher its density, the more serious the disease. Yellow plaque, smell from the mouth, as well as nausea should be taken as signs of stomach diseases. With even more advanced pathologies, patients complain of a yellow-brown tongue, nausea and a bitter taste in the oral region;
Progressive disease of the liver or pancreas should be considered an equally serious factor in why yellowing of the tongue occurs. In this situation, patients complain of a yellow-green or pure yellow tongue, as well as sensations of bitterness in the oral cavity. The taste of iron and the feeling of bitterness certainly indicate that there are problems with bile;
The use of medications – many complain that after using vitamins, the tongue turns yellow. This should be considered the norm, because the dyes included in the list of vitamin complexes are quite capable of changing the color of the plaque for some time. You can observe yellowness after a course of antibiotics. The fact is explained by the fact that as a result of the use of medications, there is an increase in the load on the liver. This provokes the release of a large amount of toxins into the body. It is important to consider that antibiotics do not provoke yellow plaque in the area of the tongue. They contribute either to staining the natural yellow, or provoke malfunctions in the functioning of the digestive tract. This is what becomes the catalyst for the occurrence of such a plaque;
The presence of respiratory and viral ailments – it also affects the formation of yellow plaque. In the presence of respiratory and viral ailments, yellow plaque is quite common. In such a situation, the patient, in addition to plaque, also has an elevated temperature. Patients may complain of sore throat. In this regard, fever and a change in the shade of the tongue give the specialist a reason to suspect the occurrence of a sore throat. No less often, plaque on the tongue occurs with a cold or pharyngitis. This is due to the fact that a cold aggravates the protective functions of the body, and also gives rise to respiratory and viral diseases. As a result of the continuous division of harmful bacteria and viruses, a dense plaque forms in the mouth area, which begins to settle on the teeth, tongue and gums.
Yellow coating on the tongue of a child
Pathological processes in the gastrointestinal tract will be confirmed by the child’s complaints of pain in the abdomen.
It will also manifest itself in nausea, loss of appetite, impaired stool, but there are other reasons due to which yellow plaque appears in children:
Recent overeating, eating a significant amount of fatty foods – makes the load on the entire gastrointestinal system many times greater. As a result of this, in the morning or after 7-8 hours, the child has a feeling of dryness in the oral cavity, nausea and a yellowish coating;
Diseases of an infectious type, especially those that are accompanied by an increase in temperature;
Fluctuations in temperature, vomiting and diarrhea may be accompanied by the formation of a yellow-brown coating due to dryness of the tongue and the formation of bleeding and slowly healing cracks;
Intoxication – plaque is formed due to liver damage, poisoning, and even dehydration;
Some types of jaundice (hemolytic, hepatitis-induced, physiological jaundice in infants) that stain the tongue, not the plaque itself, to a yellow tint. The same applies to other mucous membranes, as well as the skin;
Local processes of an inflammatory nature in the oral cavity of a child, for example, tonsillitis, caries, gingivitis, glossitis or stomatitis.
Severe pathology of the somatic type, namely kidney disease, any type of diabetes mellitus, autoimmune processes – all this is accompanied by metabolic dysfunctions and subsequent intoxication. This, in turn, can also provoke the appearance of a yellow tinge in the tongue area.
Examination of a child
Determining the exact cause of the presented changes in a child, based solely on the results of an examination of the tongue, is almost impossible even for the most experienced specialist. This is due to the fact that this manifestation in a variety of diseases is not characterized by any specific features. In this regard, the specialist is obliged to conduct a complete examination of the child, determine the presence of any accompanying signs and prescribe any additional examinations.
We are talking about a consultation with a pediatrician, gastroenterologist, dentist. You may also need to submit:
General blood, urine and stool tests;
A blood test of a biochemical type, which will make it possible to determine the ratio of glucose, bilirubin, ALT, AST, creatinine, urea and other necessary indicators.
From additional examinations of the child, it may be necessary to conduct an ultrasound scan of the digestive tract, esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Of course, it is not necessary to carry out all the presented procedures at the same time in case of detection of a yellow coating on the tongue of a child. You should start with a visit to a specialist who will determine whether there is a need for certain diagnostic procedures that make it possible to clarify the diagnosis.
Treatment of yellow plaque on the tongue
Recovery should be symptomatic and, first of all, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of the tongue with a brush and toothpaste. In the vast majority of cases, the layer is removed without any problems and is in no hurry to form again. After that, if the phenomenon has not recurred within a few days, you can stop worrying about it and just devote more time to the prevention of the oral cavity.
However, if a few hours after the completion of the hygiene procedure, plaque reappeared, it is necessary to think about the factors that provoke its appearance from time to time. Thus, the treatment process should not be aimed at combating plaque, but at eliminating the causes that affected its formation. If this is not done, then the yellow layer will appear in the area of the tongue all the time, and the condition of the child or adult will worsen.
In this regard, doctors recommend observing for several weeks what the intensity of plaque on the tongue will be.
It is advisable to follow a few tips:
Twice a day, in the morning and evening, you should carefully clean the surface of the tongue from the formed plaque with a soft toothbrush. The use of the hard variety can only make things worse by causing infection;
You need to adjust your diet. This implies the exclusion of fatty, fried, smoked and spicy foods from it, as well as the introduction of cereals and sour-milk products. The most useful will be kefir with a low degree of fat content, fermented baked milk, curdled milk and, especially, cottage cheese;
In biliary stagnant processes, you can use drugs that are characterized by a choleretic effect.
Experts recommend constantly monitoring the color and state of your own language. In the event that after a few days the density of plaque begins to decrease, and its shade from concentrated or even yellow-green begins to turn into yellowish-grayish, then the initial therapeutic measures have borne fruit. A similar diet should be followed for at least three to four weeks.
Next, you need to consider the recovery process for the most common causes of discoloration of the tongue. First of all, this is angina. Treatment in this case implies the complete elimination of all symptoms that may be due to increased desquamation (peeling) of the epithelium and dryness of the mucous membrane.
Experts advise with a yellow layer in the area to lubricate it with 1-2% peach oil emulsion. An equally effective way is to rinse the mouth area with strong tea after each meal. With an obvious inflammatory process in the gum area, not only stomatitis should be excluded, but also allergic reactions. After that, it will be necessary to take keratoplastic type drugs, namely carotenoline, sea buckthorn oil and rosehip extract.
Considering problems with the gastrointestinal tract as the cause of the appearance of a yellow tint, it should be noted that you can get rid of plaque by using laxatives. First of all, it is necessary to cleanse the intestines, because most often stagnation in the intestines provokes a variety of problems with the mouth and the digestive system.
Further, doctors insist on the use of magnesia or an enema. This will undoubtedly prove to be a much more effective method than herbal preparations, which last much longer. In the future, if the situation does not worsen, you need to adhere to a strict diet. Self-treatment attempts usually only make things worse. Therefore, you should consult a doctor not only to undergo a course of treatment and prescribe a diet, but also in order to know exactly what preventive measures are needed.
preventive measures
Appropriate prevention is essential. This is due to the fact that the tongue is a kind of filter for food, creating obstacles for its entry into the upper respiratory tract. But, in addition to this, it is able to delay microorganisms from entering the gastrointestinal tract, it is in connection with this that the root of the tongue always has a layer in the form of epithelial outgrowths. Thus, it is necessary to allow the tongue to be cleansed of yellow plaque.
It is desirable to clean it after brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth, which must be carried out daily. Thanks to the design features of modern toothbrushes, it is possible to do tongue hygiene after brushing your teeth. Be sure to monitor the force of the impact, because, as noted earlier, too much force can further aggravate the situation.
The need to follow a diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle are also included in the list of preventive measures. According to statistics, those who have had yellow plaque associated with gastrointestinal problems face a similar problem in the future. Therefore, consultations of a gastrologist and a nutritionist should not be neglected. This is especially true for a fragile child’s body.
Thus, the appearance of a yellow coating on the tongue in many cases is a “bell” about quite serious health problems. Recovery in this situation should be comprehensive and symptomatic: it is necessary to clean the tongue and determine the exact cause of such changes. Only in this case it will be possible to permanently get rid of the problem and save 100% of vital activity.