TONGUE, BLACK, HAIRY
Description and Possible Medical Problems
When you were a kid, your imagination may have run away with you at night when you thought you saw a black, hairy monster under the bed, and you called for Mom and Dad to come take a look.
Now that you’re an adult, the sudden appearance of a black, hairy tongue is just as disturbing as it was when you were a kid. Your imagination may also take over just as it did in childhood, as you ponder the possible causes and come close to driving yourself to the emergency room.
Relax. Have you been taking penicillin or other antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection? If your tongue turns black or brownish in color, it’s probably in response to a lengthy course of antibiotic treatment. The papillae, or tiny, hairlike protrusions on the tongue, can turn dark due to a proliferation of bacterial growth on the tongue. In addition to the color change, you may have bad breath, due to the foul odor of the excess bacteria.
Treatment
A black, hairy tongue is harmless. Once you stop taking antibiotics, your tongue should return to normal.
If you still have a few days or weeks to go on your antibiotic therapy, however, you can improve your oral hygiene in the meantime by brushing and/or scraping your tongue at least once a day or as often as you need to.
And if you smoke and you believe this is the cause of your black, hairy tongue, my best advice is simply to stop.
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Tags: General health