HomeAnswersDentistryoral thrush

I have a coated tongue for the past five months. What it could be?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have had a coated tongue for the past five months. I was under extreme stress, worry, and anxiety. Even thought that I had got HIV from receiving oral sex. Since then, I have had a 10 week and six months negative HIV test. About a month after my exposure, I noticed that my tongue was white. Now five months later, I feel like the roof of my mouth is dry and has a clear mucus layer, and my tongue has not changed. The coating is primarily on the back. It feels like my papillae are furry. If I use a scraper or salt and then dry mouthwash it looks normal for a bit. What do you think? Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Honey Nandwani

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have viewed the images (attachment removed to protect patient identity). It looks like a thick white coating that is commonly seen in case of yeast infection of the tongue or oral thrush. It commonly causes dryness in the mouth. Papillae feel furry due to the infection. My suggestion to you is to start gargling with anti-fungal mouthwash like Nystatin mouthwash. Eat more of probiotics like yogurt. Place Clotrimazole lozenges in the mouth and let it dissolve. Also, get your tongue examined by a dentist. Did you use any mouthwash or took any medicine for it? Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Could this be HIV? I was told that my two tests were conclusive. Does oral thrush bleed? Or be in other places than just my tongue? I did take two to three different antibiotics for a couple weeks before I noticed the white tongue. I did consult a few dentists online who said it did not resemble thrush. Is thrush common in adults? Can stress cause this? Any home remedies? I have uploaded a new photo. It has been the same for months. No change. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Honey Nandwani

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

It is not necessarily due to HIV. Also, thrush does not bleed normally. Yes, it gets wiped off but will reappear. Taking antibiotics can be a causative factor for thrush. I have already mentioned the remedies in the previous answer. Thank you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. K. Shobana
Published At April 27, 2018
Reviewed At July 18, 2025

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. K. Shobana is a Dental Surgeon specializing in oral health and dental care. She is skilled in preventive dentistry and provides oral hygiene education. She can do restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns. She can handle periodontal problems such as gum diseases and periodontitis. She can do root canal treatment.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Honey Nandwani
Dr. Honey Nandwani

Dentistry

Consult this doctor

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Listen to related tracks in our music library

Related Questions

I have a whitish lesion on the lateral side of tongue. Is it leukoplakia?

I have a coated tongue for the past five months. What it could be?

General Measures Against Fungal Infection and Use of Antifungal Agents

I need a second opinion on my oral thrush. What could be causing this?

Are white tongue, muscle aches, and sore throat symptoms of HIV?

I have asthma and nasal polyp, and some foul smell is coming from my nose and throat. Please help.

Comprehensive Second Opinion

Read answers about:

oral thrush

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Dentistry

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.