Having hair on the tongue sounds bizarre, but it’s actually a thing. It’s a condition called black hairy tongue, where the papillae on the tongue grow out of proportion. These papillae become longer and grab on to any food particles that pass through the mouth. These particles get tangled and clumped up with the long papillae, making the tongue appear black, and fuzzy.
The papillae structures were created to be short, they usually shed or get brushed down during a daily brushing routine. But in a case where a person lacks proper hygiene like not brushing down the tongue, the papillae take this as a chance to grow longer and trap dirt. Luckily, this is just a temporary condition and there’s a fix for it. In this article, we’re going to look at the treatment and prevention of black hairy tongue.
Gentle brushing: Having a black hairy tongue means that the papillae have grown longer. When they do, they trap food, bacteria, and dead skin. So by gently brushing your tongue with a soft toothbrush, you brush away the build-up and start breaking down the overgrown papillae. You have to do this regularly to shorten the papillae back to their normal size so your tongue can look clean and healthy again.
Tongue Scraping: A tongue scraper is a tool made just for cleaning your tongue. Many people use a toothbrush, which is fine, but to get the extra dirt and bacteria out of the tongue, you need to use a tongue scraper. When scrapping your tongue with a tongue scraper, you need to drag the scraper across the tongue from back to front, pulling off all the junk like food particles and bacteria stuck on the surface.The main essence of scrubbing is to get rid of the soap the toothbrush might have made, which leaves your tongue feeling very smooth and fresh.
Avoiding irritants: There are a couple of irritants that cause the tongue to dry out. Examples include smoking, chewing tobacco, and drinking. This habit can dry out your mouth and stain your tongue. When you cut back on this, your mouth gets a chance to stay moist and clean itself naturally with saliva. Without this irritant, your tongue fatally won’t grow as long or trap as much junk.
Oral hygiene: Many people have the idea that brushing is just for the teeth alone. However, brushing your teeth and flossing regularly isn’t just for the teeth, it also helps keep your tongue clean. When you brush your teeth, you also need to do the same to your tongue because all the food you eat passes over your tongue to get to your stomach.
Those tiny bumps present on your tongue’s surface, also known as papillies, catch these food particles and trap them all in your tongue. But when your mouth is free from bacteria and leftover food, it becomes harder for the papillae on your tongue to grow too long, which is what we want. Make sure to brush your tongue daily, just like your teeth, to stop the buildup from happening.
Consulting a dentist: If the black hairy tongue doesn’t go away even after you’ve taken these steps, you need to see a dentist. The dentist will examine your tongue closely to check if something else might be causing the problems other than external factors. They might recommend a stronger treatment like a medicated rinse or even trimming down the papillae.
Conclusion
Getting rid of a black hairy tongue needs consistency and proper oral hygiene. You need to brush your teeth and tongue every day, avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol, and contact a dentist if the problem continues.
