Home Remedy for a White Inflamed Tongue

A white, inflamed tongue is usually a sign of oral or mouth thrush. The white, creamy lesions that appear on the tongue will usually bleed when they are touched. Oral thrush is normally caused by a weakened immune system, according to the article "Oral Thrush" by the Mayo Clinic staff. It can be brought on by the overuse of antibiotics and corticosteroids. Though anti-fungal medications are often prescribed by doctors for this condition, there are also some highly effective home remedies for getting rid of oral thrush.

Getting Started

Since oral thrush is caused by a fungus called candida albicans, the first thing you should do is remove sugar and gluten from your diet. Sugar and gluten will feed the fungus and make it nearly impossible to treat. Many commercial foods contain gluten like bread, milk and cereal. Substitutes are available in the health aisle of most stores. Oral thrush can quickly spread to the throat and even the esophagus. In addition to dietary changes, you can mix 1/2 tsp. salt in 3 oz. of warm water. Stir the concoction for a few seconds, then gargle with it for 45 seconds. Swish the salt water all around your mouth and tongue thoroughly before spitting it out. Repeat this procedure two more times.

Scraping the Tongue

After gargling, measure out another 1/2 tsp. of salt and sprinkle it on your tongue. Brush your tongue with the salt and a toothbrush. You do not have to brush that hard as the bristles of your toothbrush will shred the white bumps fairly easily. You may experience a little discomfort. Continue to thoroughly brush all areas of your tongue. Gargle with water and examine your tongue. Notice the areas that need the most attention. Brush your tongue two more times, rinsing your mouth with water after each brushing. Finally, rinse your toothbrush off and use it, or a tongue scraper, to remove the furry white residue that is left on your tongue. Repeat all of the above steps as needed each day. Once you get rid of the oral thrush, make sure you brush your teeth regularly and use mouth wash.

Follow-up Care

Gradually go back on your normal diet, but try to limit your intake of sugar and gluten. Avoid taking too many prescription medications and corticosteroids. You may also want to take probiotics, which are "friendly bacteria" that can help replenish the natural bacteria in your digestive tract. Your natural bacteria is what fights off candida overgrowth, which is the primary culprit of oral thrush. Eat yogurt in lieu of probiotics for a health digestive tract. Yogurt also contains cultures of bacteria. Maintaining a sensible diet and health digestive tract will help prevent any recurrent outbreaks of oral or mouth thrush.