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Question:
Thank you for being here. I have a question about my tongue. I notice on
my tongue that there are small white dots on my tongue. And when I wake up
my tongue is not as red and dry. This has been freaking me out and I'm very scared. Dave in CA
Answer:
Dave, "small white dots" on your tongue could be a number of things. Are these new, painful, evenly distributed, in the front, in the back near your throat, along the side??? The differential diagnosis or thought process for white lesions on the tongue usually start as follows: Assess if the patient has been using anything different in their diet or new tooth paste. If this is a new finding, and you are using something new, stop and observe.
Is the patient taking any medications (specifically antibiotics) since these will change the normal bacteria in the mouth and can cause tongue and mouth sores. Fungal infections for example, can be a result of taking antibiotics and is treatable with anti-fungal meds such as nystatin lozenges. If the white spots have been around and are starting to change etc., this could be sign of early oral cancer. This, however, does not sound like the situation in your case since you have stated that the general color of your tongue has changed.
It sounds to me like a fungal infection on your tongue and should be very treatable with antifungal nystatin lozenges. You should go into see your dentist to have someone take a look!
Over the weekend, try the lozenges (over the counter- ask the pharmacist) and see how things look for a couple of days. If no changes or things get worse, go into see the dentist for a diagnosis. Oral cancers just don't "pop up" over night and the majority of them occur under the tongue and along the lateral or sides of the tongue.
Editorial Staff
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