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Dehydrated Tongue?

About 60 percent of your body weight comes from water. Dehydration occurs when your body losses water faster than you’re able to replenish it.

Dehydration causes changes to many tissues in your body. In the early stages, you may develop symptoms such as a dry mouth, thirst, and light-headedness. Severe dehydration can cause organ failure and death.

Your tongue is one place where you might develop symptoms if you’re mildly dehydrated. Some tongues develop white patches or a dry, rough surface.

Along with dehydration, having a white tongue can also be a sign of many other medical conditions. Most of these conditions aren’t severe, but some require prompt medical attention.

Let’s look at some of the tongue symptoms that may indicate you’re dehydrated and examine other causes of a white tongue.

White tongue as a sign of dehydration

Every cell in your body requires water to function. If you lose more water than you take in, your cells won’t have enough fluid to work correctly. Severe dehydration can lead to organ failure and other serious complications.

Your tongue is a muscular organ covered in tiny bumps called papillae. These bumps contain receptors that allow you to taste your food.

Dehydration can lead to reduced saliva production. One of the roles of your saliva is to help maintain your oral hygiene. Your saliva contains antimicrobial substances such as hydrogen peroxideTrusted Source, lactoferrin, and lysozyme, which help reduce levels of yeast and bacteria in your mouth.

A dry mouth can increase your risk of infections like oral candidiasis, also known as oral thrush. Oral thrush is a yeast infection that commonly causes a white patch over the papillae on your tongue. It can also occur on:

your inner cheeks

the roof of your mouth

gums

tonsils

A dry mouth can also contribute to swelling of your papillae. The following can get stuck around the enlarged papillae and give your tongue a white appearance:

bacteria

fungi

dead cells

food

Other dehydrated tongue symptoms

Dehydration can cause several symptoms that affect your mouth and tongue. People often report their tongues having a dry, rough texture when they’re dehydrated.

Other symptoms affecting the mouth and tongue can include:

dry lips or tongue

dry mouth

sticky mouth

lack of salivia production

A dehydrated tongue or mouth is an indication that your entire body is dehydrated. Other early warning signs of dehydration are:

tiredness

thirst

light-headedness

dark or strong-smelling urine

passing urine less frequently

First aid for dehydration

According to St. John Ambulance, here are some steps to follow if you’re with someone who becomes dehydrated.

Help them sit down.

Give them water by itself or with an oral rehydration solution, if available. Avoid giving them cooking salt mixed with water.

If they have muscle cramps, encourage them to rest. You can also help them massage or stretch their cramping muscles.

Monitor their level of responsiveness. If they continue to seem unwell, seek medical treatment.

When to see a doctor if you think you’re dehydrated

If you’re mildly dehydrated, drinking plenty of fluids might be enough to treat your symptoms. If drinking fluids doesn’t make you feel better, it’s a good idea to seek medical treatment. You should also seek medical treatment if your baby or toddler is dehydrated.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Emergency symptoms that should prompt you to go the nearest emergency room or call 911 include:

extreme thirst

unusual tiredness or confusion

not urinating for 8 hours or longer

rapid heart rate

dizziness that doesn’t subside after several seconds

 

 

(07/21/2022)
by healthline

More Information: https://www.healthline.com/health/dehydration-white-tongue#white-tongue-and-dehydration

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