White stuff on side of tongue - Dental Health Message Board

Joop · 02-06-2004, 05:31 AM

I have these white bumps/lumps (not very raised) on the right of my tongue. It doesn't spread to the top or bottom of my tongue.

They cause no pain at all and i am able to pull them off with moderate effort. Yet I cannot get them all as the next day more appear.

At the same time, my cheek wall (esp. the right cheek) have seem to be 'peeling', every morning i wake up with white gunk accummulated on my cheek walls, sometimes still clinging on. I tend to remove these with my finger, but before halfway through the day more accumulate.

These two problems could be interconnected as they both started happening around 1 year ago.

Any help?

kellie2 · 02-06-2004, 12:35 PM

My guess would be thrush, but you will need a doctor to look at it for a definite diagnosis. It is easily treated with a medicine you rinse your mouth out with. Babies also get this from formula so it isn't a big deal but does need to be treated, because if this is what you have, it will eventually spread down your throat and not be very comfortable.

Do you have a sore throat too?

Joop · 02-06-2004, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellie2

My guess would be thrush, but you will need a doctor to look at it for a definite diagnosis. It is easily treated with a medicine you rinse your mouth out with. Babies also get this from formula so it isn't a big deal but does need to be treated, because if this is what you have, it will eventually spread down your throat and not be very comfortable.

Do you have a sore throat too?

I don't have a sore throat.

Any idea how I would have gotten this? I practise good oral hygene and go to the dentist once a year. Strangly the dentist never noticed this on my tongue or said anything on my last visit, when it was more prominent from my not picking at it.

Thanks

scribbles · 02-06-2004, 07:41 PM

If we're talking about causes of thrush, it could be anything that changes the balance of bacteria in your mouth since the fungus that causes thrush is normally already in our mouths, kept in check by all these other good bacteria that live in your mouth.

So depending on the individual, things like medications, invasion of new bacteria, diabetes, a weak immune system (eg. HIV, other condition)... are some things that could disrupt this balance.

And thrush can also be spread through cunnilingus (it's the same fungus that's responsible for yeast infections).

kellie2 · 02-07-2004, 08:47 PM

using mouthwash will also cause it as it upsets the normal ph balance in your mouth....