Dr Tom Smith: A matter of taste

Why do doctors no longer take any notice of the colour of the tongue? I remember as a child they would always look at it to check that I was healthy. Now my doctor says that it's not important. My tongue is always covered with a soft white fur. It isn't painful, but what can it be? Should I try to scrape it off?

Tongue examination was thought to be important in Victorian times when doctors knew very little about the true causes of disease. They thought the tongue's appearance reflected what was going on inside the body. Now we may look at the tongue for any local signs of infection of the tongue, but not to check general health. There are better ways of doing that. The white fur on your tongue, however, may be a fungal or bacterial infection. Your doctor may well be able to give you something for it.

I have lost my sense of taste and smell after a bad bout of flu. Is this a sign of something seriously wrong, and will it get better?

It is usually just a sign of residual catarrh in your nose. Decongestant drops or a spray usually help to clear it. Your pharmacist will guide you on what is available. If a decongestant does not work, see your doctor, who may be able to clear it with more powerful nasal sprays or drops. If that doesn't work, and you have long-term loss of smell, then the olfactory nerve could be directly affected by the virus. If it is, then you may have to wait a year or so before it returns to normal.
