Month: June 2016

What does a white coating on tongue mean? A white coated tongue occurs when bacteria, fungi, debris and dead cells get trapped in enlarged or inflamed papillae that are found on the surface of your tongue. In most cases, this condition is harmless to your health and temporary. There is nothing to worry about when there is no any other sign of a serious disease.
However, in some cases, a white coated tongue can be symptomatic to underlying disease or infection that can be life threatening when left untreated. It is important to visit your health care provider to determine the cause of this condition when it is persistence or accompanied with other symptoms.
White coatings that is causes by harmless conditions can easily be removed by brushing or scrapping your tongue regularly. However, those that results from more serious condition may require a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment.

Why do I have a White Coating on my Tongue?

There are various factors that can cause this tongue condition. They include the following:

1. Dehydration

Is a white tongue a sign of dehydration? Dehydration is the major cause of temporal white tongue coating and dry mouth. Taking water frequently can help to prevent this condition. Once you start feeling thirsty, it shows that your body is already dehydrated.
The other symptoms of dehydration includes dark colored urine, infrequent urination, headaches and exhaustion. Although you are supposed to take at least 8 glasses of water a day, the mount of water you need per day depends on your body weight, the activity you are doing and the climate of your area.

2. Smoking

Smoking tobacco causes inflammation or swelling of the taste receptors. Bacteria, fungi, dead cells and other debris can get trapped in the swollen taste buds to cause an infection that results to white coating on tongue. The smoke from tobacco also contains chemicals that are harmful to mouth tissues and your health.

3. Excessive consumption of alcohol

In the first place excessive consumption of alcohol causes excessive dehydration of your body. As you read earlier dehydration is among the causes of white patches on the tongue.
Secondly, alcohol causes inflammation of the taste buds. Dirty, bacteria and fungi may get trapped in enlarged papillae to cause infections that leads to white coating. Reduce or avoid alcohol consumption and focus on how you can get rid of the white patches.

4. Poor oral hygiene

Practicing improper oral hygiene increases the amount of bacteria, fungi and other pathogenic micro-organisms that are found in your mouth. Poor hygiene can also lead to accumulation of dirty, bacteria and dead cells on the surface of your tongue. This may lead to white coating on tongue.
Improve your oral care hygiene. Brush your teeth after taking every meal and before going to bed. Floss your teeth frequently and use a high quality antiseptic mouthwash to clean your mouth. It helps to reduce the amount of bacteria that are found in your mouth.

5. Oral thrush

Oral thrush is also known as candida, it is a yeast infection in the mouth as a result of fungus. This is the same fungus that causes vaginal yeast infection. This condition causes white patches that resembles a cottage cheese to develop on the mouth surface including the tongue.
There are various factors that increases the chances of developing oral thrush. They include the following:

• Having a weak immune system
• Other body conditions like diabetes
• It is common among infants and elderly people
• Taking inhaled steroids for conditions like asthma or lung infections
• Wearing of dentures
• Often use of antibiotics.

It is recommended to visit your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment when you suspect having oral thrush. To restore a mouth that is damaged from oral thrush, take plain yogurt, probiotic supplements and antifungal medicines.

6. Leukoplakia

A part from dehydration that is the common cause of white patches in mouth, leukoplakia can also lead to white coated tongue. This condition causes excessively growth of cells in the mouth. Other parts of the mouth can also be affected by this condition.
Leukoplakia results from irritations of the tongue especially from smoking tobacco. This condition is not dangerous on its own although there is chances of developing mouth cancer later in life if not treated. It is therefore important to visit your doctor for treatment when you notice overproducing cells in the mouth.

7. Oral lichen planus

This is another cause of white coating on tongue. It causes several white raised lines to develop on the tongue. Other parts of your mouth can also get affected when suffering from this condition. The exact cause of this condition is not known but it is linked to low body immune system.
Mild cases of this condition does not cause discomfort. However, a severe condition can result to a burning sensation, inflammation or pain and other discomforts. Severe oral lichen planus can be managed by using a high quality mouthwash to clean the mouth.

8. Syphilis

This is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through sexual contact. It spreads from one person to the other through direct contact with open sores on skin or mucous membrane. It causes small painless sores to develop on genitals and rectum. They can also appear as white coating on tongue and other parts of the mouth as white painless sores.
After infection, syphilis bacteria can remain dormant in your body and reactivate again after a long time. If not treated, this infection can cause complications like brain damage and even death.
It is therefore recommended to visit your doctor when you suspect that you are infected. It can easily be treated using anti-biotic tablets or penicillin injection.

9. Mouth cancer

Mouth cancer is also referred to as oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. It is in a category of head and neck cancer. It can develop on any part of your mouth including tongue, gums, lips, roof of mouth, floor of mouth, inside cheeks and lip.
When the tongue is affected, it begins in the flat squamous cells that are located on the surface of your tongue. It can be treated using surgery to remove the affected cells. Other treatments involves chemotherapy, radiotherapy and drug therapy.
Visit your healthcare provider for treatment when you notice overgrowth of some cells on your tongue or any other part of the mouth. Mouth or tongue cancer can easily be treated when noticed earlier.

10. Geographic tongue

Geographic tongue is also among what causes white and flaky patches on the tongue. The patches resembles those that develops on the skin when suffering from eczema. It is believed that this condition occurs when your body is under stress.

What does White Patches on Tongue Mean?

Having white patches on the tongue is caused by various things. The common causes of this tongue condition includes excessive dehydration, smoking tobacco, excessive consumption of alcohol, poor oral hygiene, oral cancer, geographic tongue, leukoplakia, lichen planus, oral thrush and canker sores among other causes.
Some of the causes of white patches on tongue are characterized by other symptoms like inflammation or a burning sensation of the taste receptors, bad breath and swollen tongue. This difficulties can affect the daily functions of the tongue like speaking, tasting different elements in food, chewing and swallowing food.
White patches on tongue treatment depend with the cause. Less serious causes can be treated by making some lifestyle changes like avoiding smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, taking plenty of water to avoid dehydration and improving your oral hygiene.
Those that are causes by more serious condition requires a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment. The doctor will prescribe some medicines to use like antifungals, antibacterial or any other treatment depending with the test results.

Reasons for White Coating on Tongue and Bad Breath

White coated tongue and bad breath are common things that many people are struggling to eliminate. It is difficult for some people to smell their own breath, it is people who are around you that will feel it when you speak or yawn.
One way of finding out whether you have a bad breath is by asking your close friend to smell your breath. Alternatively, the best way to find out the smell of your breath is by checking the color of your tongue. A white coated tongue is usually accompanied by bad breath.
There are several obvious causes of white tongue and bad breath. They include the following:

• Improper oral healthcare

Poor oral healthcare can lead to accumulation of food particles, dead cells and other debris to accumulate between your teeth and on the tongue surface. The dirty mouth environment harbors bacteria and other micro-organisms that causes bad breath and white tongue coating.
It is recommended to brush your teeth using a brush and toothpaste after every meal and before going to bed. Also, use a high quality mouthwash to rinse your mouth. It helps to kill bacteria that causes white coatings and bad breath.

• Dry mouth

Dry mouth results from dehydration of the body that causes white coating on tongue. Inadequate saliva in the mouth inhibits the removal food particles from the mouth. Saliva also helps to kill harmful bacteria that causes different mouth conditions. Therefore its deficiencies can lead to bad breath and white patches.

• Certain foods

There are some foods that can lead to bad breath when eaten. The common ones includes red onions and garlic. When some particles are left in the mouth, they can lead to bad breath. Gargle some water in the mouth after eating a meal that contains garlic or red onions.

• Smoking tobacco

Bad breath and tongue patches is the common problem that is associated with tobacco smoking. It causes inflammation of the taste buds. Foo particles, dead skin cells and bacteria can get trapped in the enlarged papillae to cause white tongue coating and bad breath.

• Medical condition

There are various medical conditions that can lead to bad breath. Some of them included sinusitis. Tongue surgeries can also cause difficulties in performing proper oral care practices.

• Acid reflux condition

Regurgitation of food and other materials from the stomach to the mouth can also cause a bad breath and other mouth problems.

Can you get a White Tongue When Sick?

It is common to have a white coated tongue when sick. White coated tongue can be symptomatic to some conditions like candida, oral thrush, lupus, syphilis, leukoplakia, jaundice and liver congestion.
Some of this conditions are also accompanied with other symptoms like sore throat, fever, headache, tongue swelling, inflammation or pain and swollen lymph nodes. Some of this conditions may become severe and hence requires a doctor’s consultation.

What is a White Coating on Back of Tongue Sign of?

White coating at the back of your tongue is mostly caused by poor oral health. Some people may find it difficult to clean the whole tongue from the back due to the chocking effect of brush or tongue scrappers. Therefore most of us will start cleaning the tongue from the center instead of the back.
Apart from improper oral health, there are also other causes of white tongue coating as you read earlier. However, it is recommended to visit your doctor when this condition is accompanied with other symptoms like tongue swelling, inflammation, bleeding, pain or a burning sensation.

Why is my Tongue White and Sore

Various oral infections that results from bacteria, fungi and viruses can also cause a white coated tongue and a sore throat. For instance, fungus can cause oral yeast infection that affects the tongue and throat. Yeast infection is also known as oral thrush or candidiasis, it is caused by fungus candida.
Oral thrush commonly affects infants and elders due to their weak immune systems. Other factors that increases the risk of developing oral thrush includes, wearing dentures, recent intake of antibiotics and other body conditions like diabetes.
This oral fungal infection can be controlled by taking yogurt with live active cultures that helps to restore your oral balance. Severe infection requires doctor’s diagnosis and treatment. You may be given prescription antifungal medicines to take for a couple of days or weeks.
Bacterial infections like sinus and strep throat can cause white tongue and sore throat. They are usually accompanied with other symptoms that includes pain around eyes and nasal cavities, headache, nasal discharge, post-nasal drip, swollen lymph nodes fever and swollen tongue.
Viral infection like HIV and Aids can also cause white tongue and sore throat. There is no treatment for viral infections. However, you can take some ARVs to control the symptoms of such body conditions.

What is this White Coating on Tongue of Baby

Babies can also develop a white coated tongue due to normal food residues accumulation or as a result of underlying medical condition. Using a wet washcloth to wipe the tongue can help to determine whether the white coating is as a result of food residues or medical condition.
White residues that persist after wiping the baby’s tongue may be an indication of underlying medical condition. Oral thrush is the common condition that causes white patches on tongue, lips, inner side of cheeks and roof of mouth in babies under the age of 1 year due to their low body immune system.
Scarlet fever is another condition that causes white tongue coating in babies. This condition is also known as white strawberry tongue. It causes inflammation of the taste buds that are on the surface of the tongue. It is also characterized with other symptoms like fever, sore throat, rash and swollen lymph nodes.
The other causes includes, geographic tongue and coxsackievirus. It is important to take your baby to a healthcare provider to determine the exact cause of this tongue condition. Some causes can be life threatening when left untreated.

How to Get Rid of White Coating on Tongue

The tongue is a very important muscle that help in tasting different elements in food i.e. sweet, salty and sour. It also helps in speaking and swallowing food.
A healthy tongue is normally pink in color and fairly is structure. However, different conditions and circumstances can cause it to have a white coating that may lead to bad breath and other problems that affects its functions.
Therefore, it is important to get rid of the white coating on back of tongue and other areas that may be affected before it become severe.
However, when this condition persist after trying the various home remedy treatment, don’t hesitate to visit your healthcare provider to determine the cause and provide the necessary treatment. Here are the various tips of how to get rid of the white tongue:

1. Take plenty of water to avoid dehydration

Dehydration is the common cause of temporal white coating on tongue. Taking small amount of water frequently can help to guard your tongue against this condition. Don’t wait to feel thirsty before taking water. Feeling thirsty means that your body is already dehydrated.

2. Practice good oral hygiene

Ensure that you brush your teeth and clean your tongue using a tongue scrapper after taking every meal, clean your mouth thoroughly before going to bed. It is also important to swish a high quality anti-septic mouthwash in your mouth once or twice daily. It helps to kill harmful bacteria that causes infections.

3. Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol

Smoking tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol causes taste buds to become swollen and inflamed. Bacteria and dirty can get trapped in the inflamed taste buds to cause infection that results to white patches on tongue.
Alcohol also causes dehydration of the body which is another cause of white coatings on tongue. It is therefore important to quit smoking and consumption of alcohol and focus on treating your damaged tongue.

4. Use salt to get rid of white tongue coating

Salt is an effective remedy on how to get rid of white coating on tongue. Its coarse texture act as a natural scrapper to remove dead cells and other debris that accumulates on the tongue to form a white coating. It also has anti-septic properties that helps to kill harmful bacteria in the mouth.
It is easy to use this remedy, you simply apply salt crystals on the surface of the tongue and use a soft toothbrush to remove the debris. Use this treatment twice daily until the tongue resumes its normal color. After this, gargle water into the mouth and spit out.

5. Use vegetable glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is the best on how to clean the white stuff off your tongue. It helps to remove the white tongue coating, moisturizes dry mouth as well as getting rid of a bad breath.  Put few drops of glycerin on the affected areas and use a soft bristle toothbrush to remove the white patches.
Use clean water to rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing. Repeat this treatment 2-3 times daily until the tongue restores its normal color.

6. Lemon juice for white coated tongue

Lemon juice has anti-septic properties that helps to kill bacteria and fungi that causes infections like oral thrush in the mouth and thus preventing and eliminating the white coatings on your tongue. Obtain some fresh lemon juice and swish in the mouth and spit it out. This treatment also helps to prevent bad breath.

7. Use probiotics

Probiotics are also effective on how to get rid of white film on tongue. It contains L. acidophilus and B. lactic cultures which kills harmful bacteria and fungi in your mouth. To use this remedy, you simply mix probiotics powder with some water to make a solution.
After performing your routine dental or mouth care, use the probiotic solution as a mouthwash. Swish it in your mouth and swallow once a day. Then take a glass of water. Alternatively, you can go for probiotic supplements that are taken orally 3 times a day.

8. Use hydrogen peroxide to get rid of white coated tongue

Hydrogen peroxide has both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that helps to get rid of bacteria and fungi that accumulates on the tongue to form a white coating. It also provides other advantage like whitening the teeth as well as eliminating bad breath in your mouth.
Using 3% hydrogen peroxide, prepare a solution by mixing one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and two teaspoon of water. Dip a soft-bristle brush into the solution and use it to scrub your tongue. Spit the solution out and rinse your mouth with water. Repeat 3 times daily until the tongue resumes the normal color.

9. Try oil pulling to remove the white coating

Oil pulling is an excellent remedy for white coating on tongue that was use from traditionally to get rid of a white tongue. This remedy works best especially when your tongue condition is as a result of oral thrush. It helps to remove the yeast and other toxins on the tongue.
To use this treatment, place some extra-virgin coconut oil on the tongue before brushing. Swish the oil in every corner of the mouth for about 15 minutes. Spit it out and rinse your mouth thoroughly using water. Repeat the treatment once daily until you get the best result.

10. Use baking soda

Baking soda has exfoliating properties that helps to remove different materials that accumulates on the surface of the tongue. It also maintains the pH of the mouth by neutralizing the acids. To make this remedy more effective, mix some baking soda and lemon juice to make a paste.
Apply the paste on the tongue and use a soft-bristle brush to exfoliate the tongue. When done, spit it out and rise your mouth with water thoroughly. Use this treatment once a day. Alternatively, make a baking soda mouthwash by mixing it with water to make a solution and swish it in the mouth.
However, if your condition is persists after trying the above remedies, don’t hesitate to visit your healthcare provider to determine the exact cause of your condition.
White coating on tongue can be symptomatic to underlying life threatening conditions like oral cancer that requires a doctor’s treatment.

References:

1. Coated or white tongue: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coated-tongue/Pages/Introduction.aspx
2. White tongue: http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/white-tongue/basics/causes/sym-20050676
3. The white tongue, bad breath conundrum: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/bad-breath/article/the-white-tongue-bad-breath-1215

The whole or part of your tongue can become swollen all over a sudden. This can be a painful condition as it can be accompanied by other discomforts like a burning sensation or inflammations.
Even though tongue may not be a severe condition, it is advisable to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine the exact cause. Some of the causes can be life threatening if left untreated.

Why is my Tongue Swelling?

Here are possible causes:

1. Eating a very hot food and drinks

Taking very hot foods and drinks can result to a swollen or inflamed tongue. It can also affect the taste buds that are located on the affected areas. This can also affect other parts of your mouth including inside the cheeks, lips and the roof of the mouth
Tongue inflammation and swelling depends on the degree of burning. This condition can also be accompanied with other problems like chewing, swallowing or speaking difficulties. The tongue may also change the color from normal to pale or red.

2. Excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco smoking

Are you taking excessive alcohol and smoking tobacco? If yes, then you are likely to suffer from sudden tongue swelling on side and tip. Alcohol and tobacco causes irritation of the taste buds that causes the tongue to appear swollen.
It also causes infection of the taste receptors and hence leading to a swollen tongue and other symptom like bad breath. To reduce the inflammation, you should quit smoking and alcohol consumption and focus on reducing the pain and treating the infections.

3. Spicy, salty and acidic foods

This is also another cause of a swollen, inflamed and irritated tongue. This kind of foods causes the taste receptors to become swollen and inflamed. They also triggers itchiness of the tongue. This creates an urge to run your tongue against your teeth. However try to resist the urge as it may worsen your condition.

4. Tongue piercing

There are various types or tongue piercing like horizontal tongue piercing, vertical tongue piercing and venom or snake bite tongue piercing that can causes the tongue to swell during the initial healing process. It can also be accompanied with other normal symptoms like pain, inflammation, redness or a burning sensation.

5. Tongue injuries or trauma

Biting your tongue accidentally when chewing food, using too rough tongue scrappers or brushes and oral surgeries can cause inflammation or irritation of the taste buds that can result to a part of the tongue or the whole surface to become swollen.

6. Acid reflux condition

Regurgitation of gastric acid from the stomach to the mouth due to acid reflux condition can lead to a swollen tongue. The regurgitated acid may cause irritation to the taste receptors and hence, leading to swollen or inflamed tongue

Is Tongue Swelling an Allergic Reaction?

Allergic reactions are the common causes of sudden tongue swelling. Reaction of your body to various allergens can result to a swollen tongue, inflammations and skin rash among other problems. Allergies can result from various things including:
Allergens in medicines may result to swollen taste buds as a result of the reaction between your body immune system and the drugs. There are many drugs that have such adverse effects like penicillin. To be sure, check the label and read manufacturer’s instructions before taking the drugs.
Allergens in food can also causes an allergic reaction with your body. They may cause irritation of the taste receptors and hence resulting a swollen tongue. Some allergens can cause anaphylactic shock that requires an emergency treatment.
The common foods that causes most allergies includes cow’s milk, fish, eggs, soy, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts and shellfish. If your body is prone to allergies, it is advisable to avoid such foods.
Allergens from insect stings and animal bites can also cause an allergic reaction. Snake bites contains venom that requires an emergency treatment. Bites and stings from other animals and insects can cause an allergic reaction that result to various symptoms like tongue swelling, nausea, paralysis, difficulties in breathing and pain.

8. Infections

Infections that occurs inside the mouth can lead to a swollen tongue. There are various mouth infections that results from bacteria, fungi, virus and other pathogenic micro-organisms. They includes:
Oral thrush
This is an infection of the mouth that is caused by fungus candida. This are the same fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections. It causes swollen and inflamed tongue. It is also characterized by white spots on tongue on the areas that are affected.
There are various factors that increases the risk of getting this infection including poor oral hygiene, weak immune system, recent intake of antibiotics and having other body conditions like diabetes or HIV. Visit your doctor when you suspect having this infection.
The doctor will give you some antifungal medicines to use for a couple of weeks. If left untreated, it can lead to persistence tongue swelling and other symptoms.
Herpes simplex virus
Herpes virus is also another cause for of a swollen tongue. This infection causes small lesions or ulcers to develop on different parts of the mouth and tongue. They are often extremely painful red sores that has a white layer at the top.
This infection normally recovers on its own after several days. Although there is no treatment for viral infections, its symptoms can be relieved by taking anti-viral medicines like acyclovir.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that you can get by having sex with an infected person. It causes small painless sore on the tongue that disappears on their own in its initial stages. The sores will also reappear during the second stage. When left untreated, it can lead to syphilitic leukoplakia on the tongue.

9. Depression and stress

High levels of stress or depression can also lead to swollen taste buds. People who have a stress for a longer time are likely to suffer from a swollen tongue. Stress lowers your body immune system as well as causing some alteration of hormones in the body. Therefore your body is vulnerable to infections that causes tongue swelling.

10. Tongue cancer

Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that affects the tongue. It usually starts as a bump or red spots that develops on one part of the tongue. When not treated early, it spreads to the surrounding areas to cause swelling.
Swelling on the tongue that are associated with cancer are persistent. They may be painless while others can cause some pain. It is also characterized with other symptoms like numbness of part of the tongue, bleeding and sore throat.

11. Deficiency of some nutrients

Inadequate intake of vitamin B complex, C or folate increases the chances of having a swollen tongue. Some conditions like pernicious anemia causes red blood cells to decrease as the body fails to absorb the vitamins.

12. Other causes of swollen tongue include:

• Down syndrome condition, a genetic disorder
• Pituitary glands problem
• Body hormonal imbalances
• Angioedema, a condition that causes rapid swelling of mucosal tissues
• Hypothyroidism
• Strep infections

It is important to visit your doctor right away when a swollen tongue is accompanied with other symptoms like difficulties in chewing, swallowing, breathing or speaking. You should also be diagnosed to determine the causes of persistence swellings or lumps.

Why is your Tongue Swelling one Side?

At times, you tongue can swell on the sides, at the tip, back or the whole surface. Different causes that we have discussed above can cause this tongue condition. However, treatment of swollen tongue on sides depend on the cause of the condition.
Use the various remedies of a swollen tongue to ease the pain, swelling and other discomfort. Don’t fail to visit your doctor when the symptoms becomes persistence even after trying some of the home remedy treatment. This tongue condition can be caused by life-threatening diseases like cancer that requires medical treatments.

Is Tongue Swelling Painful?

A swollen tongue can be accompanied with other symptoms depending with the underlying cause of your condition. Apart from pain there are various symptoms that are characterized by swollen tongue. Irrespective of the cause there are commons symptoms you will experience. They include:

• Mouth soreness and painful tongue
• Tongue bumps or lesions
• Difficulties in speaking swallowing, chewing food or speaking
• Inflammation or a burning sensation of the tongue and other parts of the mouth
• Fluctuation of the body temperature that causes fever or chills
• Bleeding from the tongue
• Headache

Swollen tongue as a result of allergic reaction is also accompanied with some symptoms. Few minutes or hours after encountering an allergen in food, drugs and insect stings and animal bites you may develop:

• Skin rash
• Abdominal pains
• Sneezing
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding from the bitten area.

When your tongue condition is as a result of underlying life-threatening diseases, you will experience symptoms like sore and tightness in the throat, severe skin rashes, and nausea, difficulties in breathing and swallowing, blood in the cough, mouth irritations and development of other body condition. Visit your health care provider right away if you are experiencing the above symptoms.

Tongue Swelling Underneath

The tongue can also swell underneath as a result of various causes. Infections are the common causes of salivary glands problems that are located under the tongue and above the jaws.
Salivary glands are responsible for production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva helps in protecting the teeth against bacterial infections, lubricating the mouth linings, helps in swallowing food and aids in digestion.
There are three main types of salivary glands that are located in your mouth. Parotid glands are found on the inner surface of the cheeks, submandibular glands that are located on the floor of mouth on each side of the jaw bone and sublingual glands that are under the tongue. Other hundreds of minor gland are also located in different parts of your mouth.
When this glands are infected, you are likely to experience various symptoms like swelling of the salivary glands, pain, high body temperatures, dry mouth, and yellow of green discharge draining from under tongue, pain in mouth, difficulties in chewing and swallowing food, chill and bad breath.
Salivary glands infections are majorly caused by different types of bacteria like staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus viridans, haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli. Fungi and virus can also cause some of the infections.

Does anxiety causes your tongue to swell?

There are various symptoms of anxiety that includes: trebling, increased heart beats and uncontrolled sweating. This symptoms can cause some inconveniences and even some health risks.
A swollen tongue is one of the symptom that many people have debated on. This is unusual symptom that you are likely to experience when frightened or having anxiety. Swollen tongue can cause a worry as there are many serious condition that can cause a sore tongue.
But our main question is that, why would anxiety cause a swollen tongue? The truth is that anxiety does not cause a swollen tongue directly. It only causes a feeling of having a swollen tongue. It causes a feeling of having uncomfortable tongue that is increasing in size.
This feeling comes out when you are hyper-sensitive to panic disorder. If you are prone to panic attack, you are likely to experience this feeling. It is created when your mind is focused to something too strongly, for this case, your mind will be focused on your tongue.
When having anxiety, your mind focused of one thing and you may have a feeling that something is wrong when in real sense, there is nothing wrong. For instance when you focus on the way you are breathing, you will feel like you are running short of breath when not.
However, the only way to stop feeling like your tongue is swollen is to focus on something else. This will help to distract your feeling. It will help your brain to go back to subconscious from being conscious.

What is Tongue Swelling a Symptom of?

Tongue is a very important muscle that helps in speaking, chewing and swallowing food. It also contains taste receptors that helps in tasting different elements in food i.e. sweet, salty and sour. In its healthy condition, it is supposed to be slightly pink in color, moist and smooth.
However, various underlying health conditions like thyroid or hypothyroidism can cause various symptomatic conditions on your tongue like swellings, pain, dryness, discoloration or bumps. Thyroid causes a tongue condition known as scalloping.
Scalloping is when your tongue becomes swollen or too big for your mouth. It becomes big leaving teeth marks on the sides. This is a very serious condition that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. Most of the people have thyroid hormone deficiency that leads to hypothyroidism.
To understand better, let us know more about thyroid. Thyroid is a small gland that is found on the lower part of your neck. It is responsible for the production of thyroid hormone that helps in metabolic activities of the cells, cell differentiation and cell development.
When hypothyroidism is not treated it can lead other conditions that can be life threatening. A part from swollen tongue, there are other various symptoms you are likely to develop when having thyroid condition. They include: headaches, fatigue, brain fog, allergies, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, memory loss, weight loss, cold feed and hands, heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol level, high or low blood pressure and heart palpitations.

How to make a Tongue swelling go down

Before treating any swelling or inflammation on your tongue, it is important to find out and eradicate the cause of your condition and later deal with the swelling. There are various treatment and remedies you can use to treat the underlying cause as well as the swelling. They include:

• Practice proper oral hygiene

This includes brushing your teeth 2-3 times daily, flossing regularly and scraping the tongue using a tongue scrapper or a soft brush. It helps to kill the bacteria as well as removing the dirty that harbors bacteria and other microorganisms that causes tongue infection.

• Visit your doctor for treatment

It is recommended to start by treating the underlying conditions that causes swelling and inflammation of the tongue. Make an appointment with your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. He or she will prescribe some antifungals, antibacterial and antiviral medicines to treat the infections that causes swelling.

• Take prescribed supplements

Get tested to determine if your condition is caused by deficiencies of some nutrients or minerals. You may be given prescribed vitamins and iron supplements to take for a couple of weeks until your tongue resumes to its normal size.

• Adjust to a healthy lifestyle

This involves making some changes on your lifestyle habits that causes infections and inflammation to the tongue. It is necessary to avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking or chewing tobacco. Tongue swellings will subside once you quit these habits.

• Avoid taking too hot and spicy foods and drinks

Very hot, spicy, salty and acidic foods and drinks are the major causes of enlarged tongue. Allow to food or drink to have a moderate heat before taking. Limit the amount of spices and salt that you use when preparing your meals.

• Avoid some of the causes of allergic reaction

Take care about the diet that you take. Avoid foods that causes allergic reactions like eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish. Read and understand some of the side effects on drugs before taking. You should also seek medical treatment when bitten or stung by some animals and insects.

• Apply some ice chips

Reduce the swelling by placing some ice chips on the tongue. Don’t allow the ice chips or cubes to overstay on your tongue as it can cause burning. Alternatively, you can take ice cold drinks and soft foods that soothes the tongue.

• Gargle with a saline solution

Prepare some saline solution by mixing ¼ tablespoon of sea salt with a glass of warm water. Gargle the solution in your mouth 2-3 times a day. It helps to reduce swelling as well as killing different bacteria and germs that causes infections.

• Take enough water

Dehydration can lead to swollen tongue and dry mouth. It is therefore important to take enough water daily. Ensure that you take for at least 8 or more glasses of water. Drink small amount at a regular interval throughout the day.

• Gargle with tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is among the effective tongue swelling treatment. It contains anti-bacterial and antifungal properties that helps fighting the bacteria and fungus that causes mouth infections that leads to a swollen tongue. This natural oil also helps to alleviate the swelling.
To use this remedy, you simply place few drops of tea tree oil in a glass of warm water. Gargle the solution into your mouth and spit it out. Be careful not to swallow. Use this treatment 2-3 times a day until the swelling subsides.

• Try baking soda

Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties that helps to alleviate inflammation of a swollen tongue. To alleviate the swelling, place small amount of this ingredient and leave it for some time before gargling water into the mouth.
This treatment also helps to get rid of gastric juice from the mouth that results from regurgitation due to acid reflux condition. Apply this remedy 2-3 times a day until your condition improves.

• Apply some honey

Honey was use from traditionally in treating swollen taste receptors and other conditions. It has anti-bacterial properties that helps in killing the bacteria that causes infections. Swash some honey into your mouth to alleviate the swelling. Alternatively, boil the honey to get warm and gargle into the mouth 2-3 times a day.

• Use a mixture of pepper, ginger and garlic

A combination of this three ingredients forms an effective treatment for swollen taste buds. It also helps in treating various bacterial infections that causes tongue problems.