Can white tongue cause bad breath.

White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae. Causes of papillae hypertrophy or inflammation include, for example: Poor oral hygiene Dry mouth Dehydration Smoking or other oral tobacco use Alcohol use (excessive) Mouth breathing Low roughage diet (eating mostly soft or mashed foods) Mechanical irritation from sharp tooth edges or dental appliances Fever Examples of conditions associated with white patches or other discolorations of your tongue include: oral yeast infection Oral thrush Geographic tongue Leukoplakia Oral lichen planus Mouth cancer Tongue cancer Syphilis Immunosuppression caused by such diseases as HIV/AIDS And yes the white tongue and the bad breath may be related. and since the white tongue has been persistent it is better to get it examined for any infection and take appropriate treatment

Visit a dermatologist

Avoiding dehydration and good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, are important. Some mouthwashes, lozenges and toothpastes can assist in fighting halitosis. Gentle but effective tongue cleaning may also be required. The tongue should be brushed in a gentle but thorough manner, from the back towards the front of the tongue, keeping in mind that the hardest to reach back portion smells the worst