When to see a doctor

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Unless caused by a serious condition, white tongue generally will not harm you. Gently brushing your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper and drinking plenty of water can help.

Make an appointment with your medical or dental health professional if:

  • You're concerned about changes in your tongue.
  • Your tongue hurts.
  • Your white tongue lasts longer than a few weeks.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Nov. 09, 2024

See also