Related articles: White Language in Children
Definition
The white tongue is a symptom that can be found in various conditions.
In children, this manifestation may be due to a physiological lack of saliva within the oral cavity; consequently, the lingual mucosa appears dry and covered with a thin whitish layer. The same effect is caused by respiratory diseases, such as colds, which cause the child to breathe with his mouth. For this reason, the saliva is reduced, making the tongue dry, white and scaly. Even fever, due to dehydration, can cause the same result.
In children, the white tongue may simply indicate poor oral hygiene or a reaction to a mouthwash containing hydrogen peroxide.
The formation of a white patina similar to ricotta on the tongue, on the other hand, generally indicates the presence of thrush (or oral candidiasis), an infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans that develops on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. This disease is more frequent in children, in immunosuppressed subjects and in the elderly, especially in patients with dental prostheses.
The presence of numerous white stripes on cheeks, gums and tongue are usually a signal of oral lichen planus (rare in children).
The appearance of white pearly patches on the tongue, raised and scabrous can signal, instead, the presence of leukoplakia. This chronic lesion develops mainly at the level of the oral cavity (gums, tongue, palate, cheek and pharynx) and can cause annoying burning and tingling. In children, leukoplakia can be favored by chronic trauma and irritative phenomena (sharp edges of decayed or chipped teeth, sharp dental equipment, etc.), nutritional deficiencies, anemia, allergies, infections and immunosuppression states.
Possible Causes * of White Tongue in Children
- Food Allergy
- Contact allergy
- Anemia
- Night apnea
- Candida
- Lichen planus
