A hairy tongue?! When bacteria and fungus build up on the papillae of the tongue, the papillae can grow up to 15 times their normal length. This causes the look of the tongue to be “hairy”.
Although it can look pretty scary, this oral condition is actually relatively harmless and should not hurt. Usually when this overgrowth happens, the color of the hairy tongue is black. The tongue can also become green, brown, yellow, or other colors. The color just depends on what substances the papillae of the tongue pick up.
What are the causes of a hairy tongue? When good bacteria are eliminated in the mouth due to a multitude of reasons, this can cause an imbalance. Poor oral hygiene, smoking, drinking excessive coffee/ tea, antibiotic use, dehydration, dry mouth, and regularly using mouthwash with peroxide are some reasons why someone may develop this condition.
Eliminating the contributing factors that cause a hairy tongue to begin with will be the best way to stop the condition from continuing. There are also anti fungal mouthwashes that can help speed up the process.
If you’re concerned about your hairy tongue and would like to speak with our oral experts at our dentistry in Woodbridge, ON, give Pine Seven Dental Centre a call today! We are happy to help and answer your questions.
