A clean mouth doesn't start with the teeth, but with the tongue. A whitish, yellowish, or brownish coating on the tongue is not only an aesthetic problem—it can also cause unpleasant bad breath and indicate an imbalance in the oral flora.
If you want to maintain fresh breath and a healthy mouth feel, you should regularly take action to combat tongue coating. In this article, you'll learn what causes tongue coating, how to effectively remove it—and how natural probiotics like Streptococcus salivarius M18 can help.
What is tongue coating and where does it come from?
Tongue coating consists of dead cells, food debris, bacteria, and occasionally fungi. The tongue's fine structure of papillae provides an ideal surface for microorganisms to colonize.
The most common causes of plaque on the tongue are:
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Insufficient oral hygiene
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Dry mouth (e.g. due to snoring or medication)
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Unhealthy diet, especially high in sugar and protein
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Smoke
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Weakened immune system or digestive problems
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Imbalance in the oral flora
In particular, a disturbed bacterial balance in the oral cavity leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of odor-causing germs – which not only leads to tongue coating but also to bad breath.
Why is a healthy oral flora so important?
Our oral cavity is populated by billions of microorganisms. Ideally, there's a balance between "good" and "problematic" bacteria. If this balance is disrupted—for example, due to antibiotics, an unhealthy diet, or aggressive mouthwashes—putrefactive bacteria can spread.
These germs particularly like to settle on the tongue and are partly responsible for:
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White or yellowish coating on the tongue
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Bad breath (halitosis)
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Poorer sense of taste
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Increased risk of periodontitis and caries
The solution therefore lies not only in mechanical cleaning, but also in microbial rehabilitation of the oral flora – especially on the tongue.
How to remove tongue coating correctly
Cleaning your tongue should be part of your daily routine – ideally immediately after brushing your teeth. The following methods are particularly effective:
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Tongue scrapers : Special stainless steel or plastic scrapers remove plaque thoroughly and gently. Daily use is important.
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Toothbrush with tongue cleaner : Many models have a textured surface on the back for tongue care.
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Gentle oral care : Avoid harsh mouthwashes containing alcohol, as they can destroy the good bacteria.
But cleaning alone is often not enough if the cause is an unbalanced oral flora .
Probiotic solution: Streptococcus salivarius M18 against tongue coating and bad breath
A particularly exciting approach to tongue care comes from microbiome research. Here, a natural helper comes into focus: Streptococcus salivarius M18 . This probiotic bacterial strain is a natural inhabitant of a healthy oral cavity—especially in the tongue area.
How does M18 work?
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Displaces odor-causing bacteria that are responsible for tongue coating
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Forms enzymes that break down the biofilm on the tongue
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Stabilizes the pH value in the mouth , which inhibits the growth of harmful germs
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Promotes a healthy oral flora , also in combination with dental hygiene
In clinical studies, M18 was able to significantly reduce the amount of sulfur compounds in the breath – a direct indication of its effectiveness against tongue coating and halitosis.
How is Streptococcus salivarius M18 used?
To ensure that M18 works where it's needed—on the tongue—it's usually offered in lozenge form. Slowly sucking allows the strain to enter the oral cavity directly and settle on the surface of the tongue.
A typical application lasts 7–14 days. Application in the evening after brushing is recommended, so that the probiotic bacteria have time to establish overnight.
Conclusion: Effectively removing tongue coating means more than just scraping
Tongue coating is more than a cosmetic problem—it's a sign of bacterial imbalance in the mouth. If you really want to do something about it sustainably, you should not only clean your teeth, but also specifically strengthen your oral flora .
With the combination of daily tongue cleaning and the targeted use of probiotic strains such as Streptococcus salivarius M18, you can effectively counteract tongue coating, bad breath, and the like – in a natural and sustainable way.
