Tobacco
White spots or patches on the tongue are among the most common side effects. While it can be alarming to see these white areas in the mirror, white tongue is easy to treat. The appearance of white tongue is caused by a buildup of bacteria on the tongue’s surface. This bacteria loves the warm, moist environment inside the mouth and thrives in tobacco users’ mouths. This doesn’t mean that all smokers have white tongues; the amount of bacteria present depends on the frequency of tobacco use.
The most significant cause of this condition is using smokeless tobacco products, especially those sweetened with sugar. A study published in the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine found that this tobacco use increased the likelihood of developing white tongue by three times. It’s believed that the sugar content in these products provides an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and increase, which then causes white tongue to develop.
