Orange tongue

[Delyce]

I've had a cough and a lot of phlem for about 2 weeks.  The couging has subsided, but there's still phelm in my throat. Yesterday I noticed that my tongue was coated in an yellowy/orange color!!  I scraped it, and brushed it, but to no avail.  Is this a common ailment?  Anybody???  Thanks.

[Denise36]

Were you or had you recently taken Lunesta.  It is a sleep aid medicine that has had some users complaining of this side effect.  Go to www.medicalnewstoday.com/youropinions and read some of the posted comments.  I too am suffering with this annoying condition.  I scrape, brush and gargle with Biotene.  This regimen helps for about 3 to 4 hours but it always returns.  I took Lunesta for a couple of times but not 2 nights in a row.  Thats the only common thread I can see.  Hope this helps.

[doe77]

I have had an orange tongue since October. Initially my doctor thought it was a fungal infection, however the symptoms did not subside after being treated with an anti-fungal medication. Then I was sent to an Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist. He did not have any answers either. He suggested that I use a tongue scraper and he prescribed an antimicrobial rinse. He said it's just something that I have to learn to live with.
I still have an orange tongue though. It's been frustrating trying to figure out the cause of this ailment. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.

[laude]

I have noticed my orange tongue for about 3-4 weeks now...I had a recent operation...I was given anesthesia, as well as antibiotics....Im not sure if taht has anything to do with it...but the starnge color seems to have appeared the day after my operation.....

[gilly1]

I have had chronic bacterial infections in my sinuses, tonsels and throat for the past two months and have been on many rounds of antibiotics, my infections are gone but I was left with a strong deep cough and now phlegm and swelling in my throat.  No doctors have been able to tell me what it could be, my ear nose throat specialist said it was most likely acid reflux disease, but I don't buy that.  Now about three days ago I noticed my tongue is dry and bright orange, like a pumpkin, I think my tongue is detoxing things, it started when I started taking wellness formula and oregano oil.  I have stopped the oregano oil since it must be killing off the natural flora.  I don't know what to do.

[Slim_Jim]

Learn to live with it, eh?  Great advice.  I've had an orange tongue now for a week.  I brush most of it off before going to bed - I gag if I go back too far - and it's actually not too bad when I wake up.  But by the time I get home from work my tongue is almost completely orange again.  I've also had a sore throat since I noticed it.  My diet has not changed nor has any medication that I take.  Not sure if I need to go to the doctor or a dentist.    

[Maure]

I too suffer this 'orange tongue' and have done for over 7 months, doctor tested for Vit deficency nothing came up, he gave me Vit.B12 to try, nothing has happened, I cannot brush it as it also makes me gag, and doesn't remove anything, I gargle, and I drink much fluid, water and juices to try to ease the sensation, of tingling and burning I get from it, the only peace I get is when I'm sleeping,  I have been on Calcuim for osteoprosis for a few years now, but until 7 months ago nothing happened, I'm going back to another doctor on the panel next week, in the hope that she may have some differant ideas.  It is an awful thing to 'have to put up with' I also have ulcers on the back of my tongue and roof of my mouth, this cannot be normal.

[helpfromsomeone]

My tongue has had an orange coating for two months. I can brush a lot of it off, but it comes back.  It was mostly gone for 10 days, but recently came back.  My tongue is somewhat sore also and  I have a swollen lingual tonsil (according to my dentist) which is the tonsil on the back of your tongue, not the typical tonsil people think of.  The doctor gave me oral anti-fungals which did nothing. It burns and the tip hurts a little.

I went to the ENT who said "What's the problem?"  I told him and he kept saying, "What else. What else."  Then he felt in my mouth VERY roughly, kind of quickly felt for swollen lymph nodes, although not AT ALL thoroughly.  He felt my tongue, then sprayed something up my nose without even telling me what it was, it was numbing stuff so he could stick a camera up there down to my throat. He did that, said everything looked fine and that was it.  He said if my doc told me I had an oral fungus, then that's what it was, period!  And when I mentioned the swollen lingual tonsil, which I can feel against my throat and pallet, he said it looked fine. I told him my dentist said it was swollen, he said it must be from the oral fungus I had.  That was it, he was done.

[jlcarson]

I have recently noticed that my tongue has an orange coating too.  I'm a 32 year old male and I've had Reiter's Syndrome (a type of arthritis) since I was about 13.

I've never noticed this coloration on my tongue before, and it's started to concern me.  I've taken many different types of medication over the years to treat inflamation and other symptoms of my arthritis.  I had my right hip replaced with titanium about 4 years ago, but I don't think the surgery or any other medications I took through the surgery and recovery have anything to do with my tongue at this late stage.

I've continued the same medication (Indomethicin) for at least 6 years now, so I don't think that's the cause either.

I drink a lot of coffee and tea, and I was thinking that might be the cause; however, I've always drank a lot of coffee, so it doesn't seem plausible to me.

I have been suffering from undue amounts of stress as of late, so that could be a factor.

Also, I live in San Diego, CA and along with many other people living in my area I've been breathing smoky air (from the recent wildfires) that has been, and may still be, heavy in toxins.  The county has warned of poor air quality, but I don't really know what may be in the air that could cause me to have an orange tongue.  I haven't asked if others around me have the same condition.  Many people have complained of headaches and other possible symptoms caused by breathing noxious fumes.

Maybe I've suffered some chemical inbalance as a result of breathing the dirty air...

I have an appointment to see a doctor tomorrow about some other things, but I'll ask about my tongue as well.

[Jenn25282]

I noticed this symptom about 3 weeks ago.  I'm a 25 year old female, non-smoker, who is dying to figure out what this is all about?!  The only change I've made to my diet is my vitamins, and I have stopped drinking coffee and soda but it is still there!

Any new developments or ideas for the cause?

[sfriswolker]

Hi all,

I've noticed the orange-tongue simptons few days ago. I'm 25 years old and my diet has worsen in last months. Five months ago I started taking B1-6-12 vitamin for three months. I don't smoke and don't drink coffee either. But during last weeks I've taking green tea after lunchs. Could this be the reason? I fear to have an bacterial or fungus inefction

[andylynn]

Good to know other people are experiencing this "orange tongue' thing.  I called my doctor and he said he had never heard of such a thing and didn't seem too worried.  I am paranoid that I have stinky breath as a result.  My husband says I don't but my 2 and 4 year are forever telling me "Mommy, your breath stinks!"  Has any one else experienced bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth with this disorder?

[STCharles]

Hey, I've seen this situation on my tongue too. They are two weeks now. First I thought it was because I had drunk some orange Gatorade, but it wasn´t. When I brush it goes away but soon it comes back! I'm getting desperate and I hope my ENTdoc can tell me something about it!

[selina22]

Hey,
I  have had orange tongue for a week now, I was quite worried. Some one here thought it could be a result of drinking green tea, I have been drinking green tea for years so that couldnt be the cause of my orange tongue. I also get paranoid that mt breathe smells, but I think its just my imagination...
Im just trying to figure out maybe its something what i eat, i eat lots of garlic, vegs and also chocolate lol

[flossieann]

my baby has a constant bright orange tongue but noone seems to know what it is. has anyone been given an answer as to a likely cause yet?

[Gina51]

I also have an orange tongue that appeared after taking predinsone and azithromycin.  I brush it off when I brush my teeth but it keeps coming back.  It was real dark when it first appeared but I noticed it is getting lighter so hopefully it will disappear altogether.  I thought it was an after affect of the medication.  

[orange_tongue]

Same thing here. I have an Orange tongue and can't seem to think about any changes in my diet or lifestyle in general. I recently picked up some anti-bacterial mouthwash and a tongue scraper in the hopes that this helps. Has anyone on this forum had theirs go away? If so, any words of wisdom?

[cns33]

Can't believe there are so many instances of orange tongue.  Kind of relieved it's not just me.  I have taken prednisone and azithromycin in the past and never got orange tongue.  Mine just showed up 3 days ago and I thought it was something I ate.  The only thing different in my diet is I changed brands on 2 teas I've been drinking for years and started drinking Dan Active yogurt.  Don't think that's the cause.  No one else on this forum can pin point anything in their diet either.
Tried the brushing and rinsing with peroxide, no luck.
Sorry no words of wisdom.
Anyone else having any luck?

[EvanOu]

I've had orange tongue for about 4 months since I had an operation to have my wisdom tooth pulled. I was anesthetized and given a 5-day course of erythromycin subsequently. I'm fairly positive it has something to do with the antibiotics I was administered. I brush off just about all of the orange on my tongue each night, and it's fine the morning after. But by the end of the day, it's completely orange again. It seems to be worse some days and better others, and I think there may be some foods that affect the extent of the orange-ness.

[Zetter]

I just noticed my orange tongue a few days ago and like everyone else, it brushes away and then comes back again. I work in a hospital in the dietary department and was sick a week ago and took some orange cough medicine. But i also seemed to have a stomach bug. My poo has been an orangy yellow color lately and im a bit concerned about it. I feel like ive ingested too much orange...beta carateine perhaps? I had done some research on genetically modified foods recently and it seems that beta carateine has been put into foods like rice to help with peoples eyesight. It is also present in corn which i one of americas number one genetically modified crops. And its is present in orange foods and certain leafy greens. And every american knows how much corn syrup and corn products are in our grocery stores. I love rice. But i feel like ive been having migraines lately...a lot of headaches and dizzy spells and blurred vision. Im an artist, so i know my eyesight is or used to be great. Could this be a reverse side effect of ingesting too much beta carotene? I cant think of anything else...does anyone think this could be a possibilty? Thanks.

[dentaldave]

It is so interesting to read so many orange tongue cases.  I am a dentist and have never seen this condition before.  Yesterday one of my assistants came to me completely concerned about her "orange tongue".  Exactely the same as many of the previous entries in this forum.  The orange color develops toward the end of the day, she will scrape it off, it wont be there in the morning, but as the day wears on, it comes back.  She has had it for about two weeks now and is very concerned.  She had her lower wisdom teeth taken out two months ago and the extraction sites have healed normally.  The only medication that she has been on for seven months duration is Minocycline for acne.  Her diet has not changed dramatically since the onset of the orange discoloration on the tongue.  I have heard of people eating a lot of beta carotene and having that cause orange palms of the hands and souls of the feet, but not on the tongue.  And she doesn't eat a lot of foods that contain beta carotene.  This is quite perplexing.   Thank you for all of your insight

[dentaldave]

It is so interesting to read so many orange tongue cases.  I am a dentist and have never seen this condition before.  Yesterday one of my assistants came to me completely concerned about her "orange tongue".  Exactely the same as many of the previous entries in this forum.  The orange color develops toward the end of the day, she will scrape it off, it wont be there in the morning, but as the day wears on, it comes back.  She has had it for about two weeks now and is very concerned.  She had her lower wisdom teeth taken out two months ago and the extraction sites have healed normally.  The only medication that she has been on for seven months duration is Minocycline for acne.  Her diet has not changed dramatically since the onset of the orange discoloration on the tongue.  I have heard of people eating a lot of beta carotene and having that cause orange palms of the hands and souls of the feet, but not on the tongue.  And she doesn't eat a lot of foods that contain beta carotene.  This is quite perplexing.   Thank you for all of your insight

[grett]

I have had an orange tongue  for the last month.  I thought it had to with the antibiotic (tetracycline) I was taking. But I called the pharmacy and the pharmacist said that it wasn't a side affect.  So I went searching on the internet a little more and found that someone suggested that is could be due to mouth rinses, especially ones with chlorhexidine (Peridex; Periostat) in them.  I went and looked at mine but it did not have that ingredient.  However,  my orange tongue did start about the time that I started to use a "whitening" mouth rinse made by Listerine.  I am going to stop using my mouth rise and I'll let everyone know if the orange on my tongue disappears.

[michellebucky]

I noticed my orange tongue 2 days ago.  I do not take antibiotics, etc...I have been using whitening toothpaste for about 3 weeks.  I have been eating baby carrots for snack for a couple of days last week.  I have chronic yeast in my ears.  I had a root canal in December and was just prepped for my crown this month (March '08) on a back molar. I am not in any pain or discomfort from my orange tongue, but I seem to be very parched in the morning when I wake (this is when I have noticed the orange tongue). I thought maybe diabetis.  I will check my sugars this weekend.  I hope this information helps some of us figure out what is causing the "orange tongue".

[iJod]

I am 28 (F) and developed all the same symptoms towards the end of an illness last year that fried my immune system (prob Glandular Fever). My GP was stumped, as was my dentist - the 'colour' was swabbed and tested and nothing, I was treated for a fungal infection and nothing - I would make it bleed to scrape the colour off. At one point I cut out all coloured food from my diet for a couple of days (water and pasta! no vits..) and it still happened so isn't colouring or caffeine. I had tests for my cortisol levels, which were too high (they thought they might be too low??) but the specialist thought that was still unrelated. I ended up with an occassional bad taste at the back of my throat. It started around Feb, and after about 5 months (!!) it suddenly stopped. Drs and dentists had no idea, and I didn't have time to see an ENT before it stopped. Now, 6 months later, it has suddenly started again! I am so upset about it. I have a slight cold/ sore throat and the horrid taste is back. It's also very dark orange. If anyone can firgure this out or has any suggestions, please please post!! I can't face another 6 months of carrying around a tongue scraper and making my mouth bleed! It makes me way to self conscious :(