Possible title: “White Spots on Tongue: Causes and Treatment Options”

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Have you noticed that your tongue is not as red as usual? If you’re experiencing white spots or patches on your tongue, you may be wondering what’s going on, especially if you’re experiencing discomfort or pain.

White spots on the tongue are common and there are various causes. Here are six possible causes white spots on the tongue You and how to treat it:

1. Trauma

Felipe Nor, assistant clinical professor of oral medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, said if you have teeth with very sharp edges, or have a habit of chewing on the sides of your tongue, this can cause tissue to grow a thicker, protective coating, such as calluses on your feet. You may not even know that you have a habit of chewing your tongue. Some people do it at night, while they are sleeping.

“Usually, these spots don’t hurt, but if the trauma is more intense and acute, like if you are bite the tongue with a bang, boils can form, which can be very painful,” Nor said InsiderSaturday (10/6/2023).

2. Candidiasis (thrush)

“Candidiasis, aka thrush, is an infection that causes an overgrowth of yeast, a type of fungus, in your mouth,” says Nor.

It is common in people who smoke or have dry mouth and causes small white spots, no more than one centimeter, to appear on the main surface of the tongue, where the taste buds are located. Thrush is also common in babies, who can catch the fungus in the mother’s birth canal or through breastfeeding.

3. Geographic tongue

Geographic tongue is an inflammatory condition of the tongue that produces white and red patches that may have slightly raised borders that rapidly change shape and position every few hours. “The phenomenon looks like a geographic map, hence the name geographic tongue,” says board-certified dentist in private practice, Gary Cash.

The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but there may be a genetic component, as some people with geographic tongue have a family history. Those who have a fissured tongue (deep grooves on the surface) are also more likely to have a geographic tongue.

“While the geographic tongue display can be a little scary, it’s not dangerous or contagious,” says Cash.

4. Lichen planus

Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks cells in the mucous membranes of the mouth. If you have oral lichen planus, you may see lace-like white patches on your tongue or on the inside of your cheeks. This condition is most common in middle-aged women and people with compromised immune systems.

5. Human papilloma virus (HPV)

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect not only the genitals, but also the mouth and throat. This is usually the result of tongue kissing or giving oral sex to someone with the virus.

On the tongue, HPV can manifest as white, cauliflower-like lesions, says Nor. These spots are usually white, tall, and benign.

6. Precancer or cancer

The most serious potential cause of white spots on the tongue is related to precancer or cancer. “One example is leukoplakia, which produces asymptomatic white patches that can be precancerous,” says Nor.

It affects about 2.6 percent of the global population, and up to 17.5 percent of people with leukoplakia will develop squamous cell carcinoma. “Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer found on the tongue, which can cause white patches,” says Cash.