Whitish, Curd-Like Substances in the Tongue/Mouth
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Tongue and throat are white
White layer coating tongue
Tongue turned white
White layer coating back of throat
White cheesy substance in throat
Possible Causes
Generally, Whitish, curd-like substances in the tongue/mouth can be related to:
- Stomatitis
Inflammation of the mouth surface causes ulcers. Various factors can cause this, such as vitamin deficiencies, medications, and autoimmunity (the body's immune system attacking itself). Often, no clear cause is found, and the ulcers heal on their own.
- Primary Immunodeficiency Syndrome
PIDDs (primary immune deficiency diseases) are rare inherited disorders that affect the immune system. People with PIDDs may be vulnerable to chronic, severe infections because their immune systems aren't functioning properly.
- Secondary Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Secondary immunodeficiency syndrome results in a weakened immune system due to an underlying condition or external factors.
- Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Whitish, curd-like substances in the tongue/mouth may be related to these serious diseases:
- Acute HIV Infection
Acute HIV infection occurs in some people during the first 4 weeks after contracting the HIV virus. The virus rapidly attacks immune cells and causes fever, headache, and sometimes a rash. The patient is highly contagious during this time as the viral load is high. Risk factors for transmitting HIV include unprotected sexual activity and contaminated needle stick injuries (e.g., via tattoos or sharing needles). Rarely, it is transmitted through the transfusion of blood products.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have white patches in your mouth or on your tongue?
- Has the condition of your mouth or tongue changed recently?
- How long have you had whitish, curd-like substances on your tongue or mouth surfaces?
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
White Tongue in Women 30-45: Causes, Health Risks & Next Steps
A.
In women 30 to 45, a white tongue is usually benign and tied to oral hygiene, dry mouth or dehydration, hormonal shifts, or mild infections like oral thrush. Watch for red flags such as white patches that do not scrape off, pain, trouble swallowing, fever or weight changes, or symptoms lasting more than two weeks, and prioritize hydration, gentle tongue cleaning, medication review, and timely dental or medical care if it persists or worsens. There are several factors to consider; see the complete guidance below for specifics on causes, risks, and next steps that could influence your care.
References:
* Al-Ansari A, Babulair M, Al-Ansari M. Coated Tongue: A Clinical Sign or Just a Cosmetic Concern? J Contemp Dent Pract. 2018 Mar 1;19(3):351-356. PMID: 29596645.
* Akpan A, Morgan R. Oral candidiasis. Postgrad Med J. 2015 Jan;91(1071):36-42. doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-132712. PMID: 26034170.
* Simoes-Silva D, Crivellin G, Zotti F, Bertolani M, Boscariol M, Setti G, Contri M, Zini A, Bizzarro S, Vescovi P, Guidetti M. Oral lichen planus: An update on management. J Periodontol. 2020 Nov;91(11):1412-1422. doi: 10.1002/JPER.19-0649. Epub 2020 Jul 23. PMID: 32709282.
* Shulman JD, Khadka R. Geographic tongue: A clinical and histopathological review. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2017 May-Aug;21(2):331-337. doi: 10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_179_17. PMID: 28935703.
* Guggenheimer J, Moore PA. Xerostomia and hyposalivation: Diagnosis and treatment. J Am Dent Assoc. 2016 Jun;147(6):448-454. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2016.01.021. Epub 2016 Mar 29. PMID: 27150917.
Q.
Burning or Tingling Tongue: Causes + Fixes
A.
A burning or tingling tongue often stems from burning mouth syndrome, nutrient deficiencies like B12 or iron, oral thrush, sensitivities to oral products or foods, acid reflux, dry mouth, nerve irritation, or hormonal changes. Simple fixes include avoiding spicy or acidic triggers, hydrating, gentle oral care, and treating the root cause such as antifungals for thrush, supplements for deficiencies, reflux measures, or a medication review; there are several factors to consider, and the key details are outlined below. See below for when to speak to a doctor, especially if symptoms persist beyond 1-2 weeks, worsen, interfere with eating or speaking, or come with white patches, weight loss, fever, facial numbness, or trouble swallowing.
References:
* Yadav N, Dhasmana S, Yadav A, Sinha M. Burning Mouth Syndrome: An Update on Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Pain Res Manag. 2019 May 22;2019:3796246. doi: 10.1155/2019/3796246. PMID: 31186716.
* Pechorro PB, Pechorro B, Bacci G, Gholam P. Burning Mouth Syndrome. 2024 Feb 16. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 32310433.
* Patil S, Siddique A, Maheshwari S. Glossodynia: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2018 May-Aug;22(2):185-190. doi: 10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_272_17. PMID: 30049969.
* Nogueira-Rodrigues AB, Alves-Silva S, Pires-Filho A, Valente-Pinto L, Cabral-Neto A. Oral Dysesthesia: A Review of Clinical Features, Etiology, and Management. J Clin Exp Dent. 2020 May 1;12(5):e477-e483. doi: 10.4317/jced.56847. PMID: 32549925.
* Piatelli A, Di Giancamillo A, D'Ambrosio D, Di Palma G. Burning mouth syndrome: aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Oral Dis. 2023 Oct;29(7):2992-3001. doi: 10.1111/odi.14498. Epub 2023 Jan 30. PMID: 36717805.
Q.
Weird Tongue Bumps or Spots: What It Means
A.
Most tongue bumps or spots are harmless and short lived, often from irritated taste buds, canker sores, a coated or geographic tongue, or lifestyle irritation, though infections or vitamin deficiencies can also play a role. There are several factors to consider, and the key details that can guide your next steps are outlined below. Seek care promptly if a lump or sore lasts longer than 1 to 2 weeks, is hard or growing, or comes with persistent pain, bleeding, numbness, trouble swallowing or speaking, fever, fatigue, or weight loss; for the full list of red flags, self care steps, and when thrush or other conditions might be involved, see below.
References:
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30342371/
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29391035/
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24795796/
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27042845/
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29080983/
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