Black Hairy Tongue

Black Hairy Tongue is a disorder that is actually very common and harmless.  This disorder is the lengthening of the papilla which is the bumps on the surface of your tongue.  Usually the ends of the papilla get rubbed away by food or actually shed off but sometimes they grow much longer than normal, making the tongue look furry.  These tiny hair-like projections can grow to 15 times their normal length.

Black hairy tongue is caused by bacteria or fungi in the mouth which makes the tongue appear hairy and black.  Normally your papillas are pinkish-white but as they grow, pigments from drinks, food and possibly bacteria get caught in the papilla which dyes the tongue a color.  Most often that color is black but it could also be brown, yellow, green or a variety of other colors.

Certain lifestyle habits and conditions can make people more likely to develop black hairy tongue. They include:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Drinking a lot of tea or coffee
• Smoking tobacco
• Being dehydrated
• Not producing enough saliva
• Taking medications such as Pepto-Bismol or other chemical bismuth based medications
• Regularly using mouthwash that contains peroxide or menthol

           

            Black  hairy tongue is more common in men, people who use intravenous drugs, or those who are HIV-positive. Other than the appearance of the tongue most people do not have any symptoms or feel any discomfort. Some people do complain of a tickling feeling in the back of the roof of their mouth, a metallic taste in their mouth, or even nausea. In more severe cases, the condition may lead to a gagging feeling and food could get caught inside of the long papilla.  The best treatment of this condition is to practice good oral hygiene and gently brush your tongue with a soft toothbrush.

            Call your doctor or dentist if the problem doesn’t get better on its own because doctors may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal drugs to help get rid of the problem.  If the drugs and medication doesn’t improve your tongue, the papilla can be surgically clipped off with a lase or electrosurgery.