What to eat to normalize tongue coating

Dec 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

To restore the tongue coating to normal, it is recommended to eat light, easily digestible foods, vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, high-quality protein sources, spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing ingredients, and drink plenty of water. If abnormal tongue coating is accompanied by symptoms such as bad breath, abdominal pain, or sudden weight changes, prompt medical attention is advised. Congee, soft noodles, and steamed eggs can reduce gastrointestinal burden and prevent food stagnation.

To restore the tongue coating to normal, it is recommended to consume light and easily digestible foods, vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits, high-quality protein sources, spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing ingredients, and drink plenty of water. If abnormal tongue coating is accompanied by symptoms such as bad breath, abdominal pain, or sudden weight changes, prompt medical attention is advised.

1. Light and easily digestible foods: Rice porridge, soft noodles, steamed eggs, and similar foods reduce gastrointestinal burden, prevent food stagnation that may lead to thick, greasy tongue coating, help restore spleen and stomach digestive functions, and promote normalization of the tongue coating.

2. Vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits: Foods such as spinach, broccoli, apples, and oranges replenish essential vitamins, improve the oral environment, reduce abnormal proliferation of the tongue coating, and aid in restoring its normal color and texture.

3. High-quality protein foods: Lean meat, fish, tofu, and similar items provide nutritional support, strengthen physical constitution, maintain normal spleen and stomach function, and prevent tongue coating issues caused by nutritional deficiencies.

4. Spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing ingredients: Job's tears (coix seed), Chinese yam, red beans, and others help regulate spleen function and reduce accumulation of internal dampness, improving abnormal conditions such as thick, white, sticky tongue coating caused by excessive dampness.

5. Drink plenty of water: Adequate daily water intake helps keep the mouth moist, rinses away residual food particles, reduces bacterial growth, and prevents discoloration and thickening of the tongue coating due to bacterial proliferation.

Maintain regular eating habits, avoid overeating, limit spicy, greasy, raw, and cold foods, rinse your mouth appropriately after meals to maintain oral hygiene, and ensure sufficient sleep and moderate exercise to support the maintenance of a healthy tongue coating.

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