What Are the Causes of Black Tongue?

Black tongue is also called black hairy tongue, hairy tongue. The filamentous nipple is hyperproliferated, and its keratinized part does not fall off to form a fluffy moss, which is named black, blue-black or brown.

Basic Information

nickname: Black hairy tongue
Visiting department: Stomatology
Common locations: tongue

Common causes: Developmental abnormalities or related to fungal infections
Common symptoms: The center of the back of the tongue is covered with fluffy filamentous nipples, gray-brown, brown to black

Causes of black tongue

The cause is unknown. Can be divided into two types of true and false, the former is a developmental abnormality, the latter is believed to be related to fungal infection. In addition, it can be accompanied by syphilis and indigestion. After smoking, long-term absorption of tobacco decomposed matter or oral penicillin, coating with colored substances and chemicals, such as tannic acid, silver nitrate, etc. can make the silky nipples black. It can also be related to the widespread use of antibiotics.

Clinical manifestations of black tongue

It is more common in the center of the back of the tongue. The closer to the center, the darker the pigment. The entire lesion is covered by villous, filamentous nipples, which are about a few millimeters long, grayish brown, brown, and even black. The damage gradually expanded, and the color gradually faded after a few weeks to months, and desquamation even disappeared, leaving no trace after disappearing. According to clinical manifestations, tongue body characteristics, and histopathological characteristics can be diagnosed.

Black tongue check

Histopathology: filamentous nipples are hyperproliferated, and keratinocytes form pigmented hairs. The bottom of the filamentous papilla swelled, the epidermis prolonged significantly, and there was mild infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria.

Black Tongue Treatment

Systemic treatment

Pay attention to oral hygiene, avoid smoking and drink strong tea. If indigestion and systemic diseases, appropriate treatment should be carried out. Oral vitamin B family, vitamin C, nicotinamide, etc.

Local treatment

Apply vitamin A acid or 40% urea solution, rub it with a soft toothbrush after a few minutes, and rinse with water. X-ray irradiation can be performed if necessary.