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Suggest Treatment For Hairy Tongue

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Posted on Tue, 8 Sep 2015
Question: Hi, please suggest me remedies for hairy toungue. I am sick and tired of it. Also i am very tensed about it.
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Answered by Dr. Honey Arora (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Need not to worry as resolution of the cause will resolve the discolouration

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Welcome to HEALTHCARE MAGIC.

I have gone through your query and can understand your concerns..

As per your question and the picture attached along with it clearly indicates that you have BLACK HAIRY TONGUE.
You need not to worry as commonly it is not due to something very serious.

It can occur due to a few conditions like:
1. It can occur when the Papillae that contain taste buds grow long and does not shed off.
2. If there is more of bacterial or fungal growth over tongue.
3. Poor Oral hygiene.
4. Tobacco chewing and smoking.
5. Taking antibiotics from long time..
6. Long term use of coloured mouthwash.
7 .Dehydration.
8. Dry mouth.
9.Intake of Bismuth containing medicines.
10.Always taking a soft diet..
11.It is not for all people but HIV+ individuals and those getting radiation for cancer can also cause Hairy tongue..

You need not to worry and a few remedies can help you in slowly improving the tongue discolouration..

-Gargle using a solution of 1:1 hydrogen peroxide and water.
-Keep an ultra soft toothbrush separately for tongue and very gently scrape your tongue by dipping it in a solution of -Hydrogen peroxide and water..
-You can use a Tongue Cleaner or Tongue Scraper too.
-You can take more of roughage or fibre containing foods and take raw fruits and vegetables as they provide friction and help in shedding dead cells from tongue.
-Avoid excess intake of tea and coffee.
-Always gargle after meals.
-In case if you take tobacco or smoke completely quit it.
-Drink plenty of water and maintain a good hydration.

-In case if still there seems no improvement you need to consult an Oral Physician and get evaluated .

If required he can take a swab from tongue and get a culture done for bacterial or Fungal overgrowth and advise you to take antibiotics or anti-fungal medicines as per the diagnosis.

You can write me back for further query..

And please don't worry as it is not anything very serious and proper treatment will resolve it well.

Hope this information helps..

Thanks and regards..
Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora..
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Honey Arora

Dentist

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 14088 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Hairy Tongue

Brief Answer: Need not to worry as resolution of the cause will resolve the discolouration Detailed Answer: Hi. Welcome to HEALTHCARE MAGIC. I have gone through your query and can understand your concerns.. As per your question and the picture attached along with it clearly indicates that you have BLACK HAIRY TONGUE. You need not to worry as commonly it is not due to something very serious. It can occur due to a few conditions like: 1. It can occur when the Papillae that contain taste buds grow long and does not shed off. 2. If there is more of bacterial or fungal growth over tongue. 3. Poor Oral hygiene. 4. Tobacco chewing and smoking. 5. Taking antibiotics from long time.. 6. Long term use of coloured mouthwash. 7 .Dehydration. 8. Dry mouth. 9.Intake of Bismuth containing medicines. 10.Always taking a soft diet.. 11.It is not for all people but HIV+ individuals and those getting radiation for cancer can also cause Hairy tongue.. You need not to worry and a few remedies can help you in slowly improving the tongue discolouration.. -Gargle using a solution of 1:1 hydrogen peroxide and water. -Keep an ultra soft toothbrush separately for tongue and very gently scrape your tongue by dipping it in a solution of -Hydrogen peroxide and water.. -You can use a Tongue Cleaner or Tongue Scraper too. -You can take more of roughage or fibre containing foods and take raw fruits and vegetables as they provide friction and help in shedding dead cells from tongue. -Avoid excess intake of tea and coffee. -Always gargle after meals. -In case if you take tobacco or smoke completely quit it. -Drink plenty of water and maintain a good hydration. -In case if still there seems no improvement you need to consult an Oral Physician and get evaluated . If required he can take a swab from tongue and get a culture done for bacterial or Fungal overgrowth and advise you to take antibiotics or anti-fungal medicines as per the diagnosis. You can write me back for further query.. And please don't worry as it is not anything very serious and proper treatment will resolve it well. Hope this information helps.. Thanks and regards.. Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora..