Black hairy tongue

As a black hairy tongue, also Nigritis linguae or lingua villosa nigra (also lingua nigra Simplified) called a disease of the tongue is called. A disease in the true sense of value to the hairy tongue have not. It is found in 3% of the population, mainly in men.

It is caused ( filiform papillae ) of the tongue, forming a hairy and mostly dark covering on the back of the back of the tongue by the extension of certain papillae. Depending on the ingested food, the tongue assumes a dark green to blackish color. The extension of the tongue coating can be very far-reaching backwards into the throat. There he caused a most unpleasant annoying tickle in speaking and swallowing, sometimes gagging. The hairy tongue often disappear after a few weeks or months back by itself.

The cause of the disease is unknown. It is believed, for example by antibiotic therapy, corticosteroids, tobacco smoking, niacin and various other substances, including mouthwashes and mouth rinses (eg, chlorhexidine) a change in the oral cavity flora.

The treatment of hairy tongue is difficult. In the foreground is the removal of a possible trigger. As a symptomatic therapy, the use of a soft toothbrush, tongue scraper of a 40 % strength solution of urea or sucking vitamin C tablets can be helpful.