Black Hairy Tongue

Causes of Black Hairy Tongue

Black hairy tongue is a condition caused by an excess of fungi in the mouth. The surface of the tongue is covered in hundreds of tiny bumps, known as papillae; normally the papillae grow to a certain length before the top is washed away, occasionally however the top surface of the papillae remains and can consequently become infected by bacteria. A build up of bacteria produces a black coloured discharge and the long papillae look like hairs, hence the name black hairy tongue. This condition is fairly common although it is much rarer in healthy people; you are more likely to develop black hairy tongue if you smoke or suffer from diabetes and if you are on certain courses of antibiotics or are undergoing radiotherapy for head or neck cancer. This condition is also more common in males.

Identifying Black Hairy Tongue

Black hairy tongue can be identified fairly easily as a film of bacteria will be clearly visible on the tongue; although it is usually black, drinking substances such as red wine, coffee and tea can alter the colour of the coating and it may appear to be more yellow, green, white or brown. Halitosis (bad breath) can also be associated with this condition.

Preventing Black Hairy Tongue

Black hairy tongue is not painful and can disappear in a matter of days with the correct treatment; treatment can be as simple as brushing your tongue as well as your teeth or using a scraping device to clean your tongue. In order to prevent contracting black hairy tongue, a high level of oral hygiene should be maintained at all times; this includes brushing your teeth and tongue twice a day, using floss and mouthwash and regularly attending check-ups with the dentist. Enjoying a healthy and varied diet with plenty of fruit and fibre-rich foods and not smoking can also help prevent black hairy tongue.