Black Hairy Tongue refers to an oral condition wherein debris or other organisms are trap and stained the tongues’ papillae making it look dark and furry. This condition is temporary and may easily be resolve by proper hygiene.
The papillae usually sheds debris in the mouth, however because of too much bacteria or yeast growth, it lengthens and create a hair-like projection. Pigments from food and drinks makes the color black but the tongue can also turn into other colors like brown, yellow or green.
Many factors can contibute to the existence of black hairy tongue, including:
- Changes in the normal bacteria or yeast content of the mouth after antibiotic use
- Poor oral hygiene
- Dry mouth (xerostomia)
- Regular use of mouthwashes containing irritating oxidizing agents, such as peroxide
- Smoking
- Drinking excessive amounts of coffee or black tea
- Excessive alcohol use
- Eating a soft diet that doesn’t help to rub dead skin cells from the tongue
