Tongue Fur

cruizer101

Hey, think this is best forum for this, I know dentists mainly deal with teeth but I'd imagine gums and tongue also come under their remit.

Anyway, recently I have started to get a "fur" I think that is the tecnical term on my tongue, the colour is pale grey yellow even a bit greeny. Now I have always noticed that my tongue wasn't always as pink as some other but never really worried me.

However more recently the fur is getting worse and I think is a cause of slight bad breath. I've started scraping it most mornings, back of toothbrush has a tool. And what I scrape off doesn't usually smell the best.

Anyway what I'm wondering is firstly is this a dental issue and would I be best to go see a dentist or a doctor regarding it.

Could this be caused by diet, I haven't really changed my diet recently.

Also I did read it could be due to a yeast infection of sorts, and antibiotics could help.

Any and all advice would be welcome, although I do realise for full diagnosis I'll need to see a professional.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Do you smoke?

cruizer101

Atlas Orange Plumbing wrote: »

Do you smoke?

No, never have.

Also if it would help I might be able to upload a pic at some stage.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Does this fit the bill....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hairy_tongue
There are a bunch of things that can cause tongue fur, usually nothing to worry about. See your dentist and get your teeth cleaned and keep using the tongue scraper in the morning.

Big_G

One of the profs in dental school used to recommend a peach or apricot pit. The patient was instructed to suck on it for about 20-30 mins every day. It helps remove the fur. Then follow your normal oral hygiene regimen. Obviously this advice does not substitute that given by a qualified dentist who sees the condition in person.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

McD?

Big_G

Flinty actually.

MoonDancer

It could be thrush either, antibiotics will only make that worse, you'll need an antifungal gel from the chemist or a prescription medicine from the doc.
If it is a fungal infection, I'd recommend getting a new tooth brush after treatment.

cruizer101

Don't think its black tongue I know it said could be other colours but mine is quite pale colour.

Don't really ear in McD too much generally my diet would be pretty good.

Must give the apricot a go see if it helps.

I kinda think it might be a fungal infection its worse nearer the back and I would nearly say it originates from throat.

If I did have to get a perscription for antifungal gel can a dentist write the perscription for that or is it only doctor can wrtie perscriptions? I'm due a visit to dentist anyway hoping won't have to pay for doctor also.

MoonDancer

You can buy the gel over the counter in the chemist. But you would probably be better off with the prescription stuff. I don't know if the dentist can prescribe it, I've had to get antibiotics once from the dentist & I had to go to the doc to get a prescription, the dentist just wrote a letter requesting it. You're probably better off just going to the doctor.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Woah hold your horses...first off go to the dentist and get it looked at...As for McD thats referring to a professor myself and Big_G had in dental school.

Big_G

Can I just say that the dentist is always better to go to than the doctor for issues in the mouth or around the mouth. That's all we look at all day. Just so you know. Plus a dentist can write a prescription for anything, unless you are on the medical card, in which case he may need to write to the gp to ask them to prescribe it. But not in the case of antifungals. They are on the formulary. AFAIK