Hello
Welcome to HCM
Black tongue is a condition when the dorsal surface of the tongue is either stained black, is unusually dark or becomes hairy in appearance.There are finger like projections called ‘filiform papillae’ around the taste buds. With the normal wear and tear daily, these papillae are shed off. But sometimes, due to certain conditions, this normal process of shedding of papillae is altered. The papillae then keep growing in size. Food particles get stuck up in these outgrowths. The food debris becomes a breeding ground for many bacteria and fungi, giving rise to a dark, fuzzy look called as the black tongue. Its chief cause is improper oral hygiene.But it can be due to fungal infection also.

Its treatment includes maintaining proper oral hygiene by regulare brushing & flossing.Pineapple is also used as a black tongue treatment. In this treatment, small pieces of pineapple are to be sucked for about forty seconds keeping them near the base of the tongue. They are then slowly chewed over a period of eight minutes. This process is to be repeated two times daily for duration of seven to ten days till the time the discoloration fades away.

Take Care
Regards
Dr.Neha

Hello and thank you for your question.
Generally black tongue is due to overgrowth of the papilla on your tongue and as it thickens, it changes coloration. You can help reduce the issue of it's appearance by brushing your tongue with a tongue comb, discontinue smoking if you have smoking habits because this is the main cause. Also, go to your dentist to speak to them about your concerns. You may need to see an oral pathologist to determine the cause of your condition and to see what would be the best procedure to help you with your self consciousness.

Best regards,

Dr. Ward

Hello & welcome,
Black tongue is absolutely an Inert condition & is harmless unless it is secondarily infected or if not properly treated.
And treatment of black tongue is quiet simple, & that is removal of etiology or factors causing black tongue once they are known.
Black tongue is nothing but overgrowth or failure of normal shedding pattern of filiform papillae which are present around taste buds on the tongue.
You basically need to use tongue cleaner ( but with due caution ) along with tooth brush , maintain your oral hygiene. This should help you getting rid of black tongue slowly over the period of a couple of months.
But if this does not solves the problem, then you must visit your dentist. You may need to undergo proper blood examination to know whether there is any kind of deficiency including vitamin deficiency in body which might cause black tongue. & will then be treated accordingly.
Avoid use mouth wash as it will again stain your tongue more & more dark. Increase your water intake to avoid dehydration which may make aggravate the condition.

Take care.

hi,Certain lifestyle habits and conditions can make people more likely to develop black hairy tongue. They include:
poor oral hygiene, smoking tobacco, drinking a lot of coffee or tea, using antibiotics (which may disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth), being dehydrated, not producing enough saliva, regularly using mouthwash that contains peroxide or menthol, getting radiation therapy to the head and neck.Practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to treat black hairy tongue. Gently brush your teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush. Also, brush your tongue. You can use a tongue scraper to make sure you're thoroughly cleaning the area. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help keep your mouth clean.Add more roughage to your diet. Soft foods won't clean off the tongue effectively.
Call your doctor or dentist if the problem doesn't get better on its own. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or an antifungal drug to get rid of the bacteria or yeast. Topical medications, such as tretinoin (Retin-A) are also sometimes prescribed. As a last resort, if the problem doesn't improve, the papillae can be surgically clipped off with a laser or electrosurgery.
take care


Other tips include:

If you smoke, quit.
Add more roughage to your diet. Soft foods won't clean off the tongue effectively.
Call your doctor or dentist if the problem doesn't get better on its own. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or an antifungal drug to get rid of the bacteria or yeast. Topical medications, such as tretinoin (Retin-A) are also sometimes prescribed. As a last resort, if the problem doesn't improve, the papillae can be surgically clipped off with a laser or electrosurgery.

hi..yours is a congenital[inborn]anomaly of tongue.black pigmentation is due to the increased number of filiform papillae on tongue..as it is a congenital anomaly it is difficult to cure..consult an oral pathologist and ask for any depapillation technique available at all.thank you.

unfortunately there is hardly any treatment available for your condition.