- With Mayo Clinic prosthodontist
Alan Carr, D.M.D.
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Alan Carr, D.M.D.
Alan B. Carr, D.M.D.
Dr. Alan B. Carr, Department of Dental Specialties at Mayo Clinic, is a consultant in the Division of Prosthodontics and a professor of dentistry at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Dr. Carr, a native of Hattiesburg, MS., received his prosthodontics training at Mayo. Following his training he has was an assistant professor at Marquette University and then became a full professor at Ohio State University where his clinical duties included Director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics at the James Cancer Hospital. He returned to Mayo in 2000.
Dr. Carr is board certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics. He served in the Air Force and has degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, University of Mississippi and Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He also is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, the American College of Prosthodontists and the American Dental Association. He has made dozens of international and national presentations, and is author of a dental textbook.
His clinical practice focuses on combined prosthodontics and reconstruction of patients with disabling oral conditions. His research interests include oral and craniofacial endosseous implants, tobacco cessation, and the impact of oral health on general health, especially for patients with chronic illness and the elderly.
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Question
White tongue: What causes it?
A couple of days ago, I noticed a white coating on my tongue. Brushing it doesn't seem to help. What causes a white tongue?
Answer
from Alan Carr, D.M.D.
Although unsightly, a white tongue is usually a temporary, harmless condition. It is due to inflammation of the finger-like projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. Debris, bacteria and dead cells get lodged between the inflamed papillae — creating the appearance of a white coating.
Many things can cause inflammation of the papillae, including smoking, mild dehydration and excessive mouth breathing. To prevent or improve the appearance of a white tongue:
- Brush your tongue on a regular basis.
- Quit smoking, if you're a smoker.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Increase fiber in your diet. Crunchy foods — such as apples, broccoli and popcorn — help scrape debris from your tongue.
If you're concerned about color changes in your tongue, consult your doctor or dentist.
