Hairy Tongue Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
A hairy tongue or hairy tongue is an abnormal condition of the tongue, which is characterized by a layer of hair on the surface of the tongue. Hairy tongue is a benign type of disorder and usually occurs without any specific symptoms.
Prevention of hairy tongue can be done by improving oral hygiene.
If not treated immediately, a hairy tongue can cause the tongue to feel like it is burning, nausea, to bad breath. In addition, the tongue will change color to brown, yellow, green or even black.
Symptom
The symptoms of a hairy tongue are the discoloration of the tongue from yellowish white to black or brown, depending on the food you normally eat and the bacteria and fungi in your mouth. This tongue disorder is commonly found on the back of the tongue and usually involves the entire upper surface of the tongue.
In general, a hairy tongue is not a problem, but in some people it can cause nausea, discomfort, and bad breath. A hairy tongue is most common in adult males and rarely seen in children.
Reason
The cause of hairy tongue is not known with certainty. However, there are several factors associated with the occurrence of this condition, such as:
- Changes in bacteria and fungi in the mouth
- Smoking habit
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Use of antibiotic drugs
- Use of drugs to suppress or reduce the activity of the immune system
- Stress level and emotional state
- Radiation
- Decreased oral activity (for example in hospitalized patients who are unable to perform optimal cleaning of teeth and mouth)
Diagnosis
The condition of the hairy tongue is not difficult to diagnose. The doctor will check whether there is a discoloration on the surface of the tongue, and the elongation of the dots on the surface of the tongue with excessive length.
Therefore, in this case, taking a tissue sample to the laboratory is not necessary to determine the diagnosis.
Treatment
The treatment that will be given to people with hairy tongue depends on their individual circumstances. This treatment involves cleaning the tongue every morning for a period of 1 month or more with a tongue cleaner.
For severe hairy tongue conditions, it can be overcome by using certain drugs on the doctor’s instructions.