There are times some people discover that their tongue become black. It is a harmless and temporary oral condition that makes the tongue appear hairy with visible overgrowth. Most times it clears up on it’s own without any treatment....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Black tongue usually occurs due to a buildup of a protein known as keratin on the tongue’s surface. When there is an overgrowth of bacterias or fungi in the mouth, it can cause the tongue to become black.
Causes
According to the publication by Healthline, there are two main types of black tongue:
1- Black hairy tongue
2- Pseudo-black hairy tongue.
Black hairy tongue
This occurs due to the build up of the Keratin Protein on the surface of the tongue.
When skin cells shed, Keratin also sheds but there are times the protein becomes accumulated on the tongue thereby making it to become black or discoloured. It is medically referred to as hairy tongue.
The following factors can increase the risk of keratin building up on the tongue:
– Poor oral hygiene due to not brushing or scrapping the tongue
– Drinking coffee or black tea
– Smoking
– Prolonged use of antibiotics
– Weak immune system
– Radiation therapy, etc.
2- PSEUDO-BLACK HAIRY TONGUE
This refers to a black, furry tongue resulting from a fungal infection, bacterial infection or other oral diseases. It’s symptoms includes the following;
– The tongue looks hairy due to the presence of long or thread-like growths.
– Discoloured tongue that is black, gray or yellow
– Tongue that feels sticky
– Bad taste in the mouth
– Burning sensation in the mouth
– Bad breath
– Gagging.
HOME REMEDIES
– Regularly brushing the tongue with a fluoride toothpaste
– Using a tongue scraper to remove plaque, bacteria, and other debris from the tongue
-Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water to improve cleanliness and reduce bad tastes and odors
– Brushing the tongue after every meal, and not eating after brushing at night
– Applying baking soda or hydrogen peroxide to the tongue
-Drinking plenty of water to help keep the mouth clean
-Eating more raw fruits and vegetables, which can help clean the tongue
You can visit a Dentist for proper treatment to avoid oral infection.
