Monday, April 29, 2024

Tongue Problems: Types, Symptoms & Treatment

tongue with hair

It can take up so much room that your doctor might find imprints of your teeth on its sides. Your doctor will try to figure out and treat the underlying condition, which may be hypothyroidism, an infection, or allergies, among others. Healthy tongues are uniformly pink and covered in tiny bumps. Diseased tongues may be dark red, white, yellow or even black.

What to expect from your doctor or dentist

A healthy tongue is typically pink in color, though it may vary slightly in dark and light shades. An unhealthy tongue, however, may be white, red, black, or yellow and may also be swollen and tender. If a person does require treatment, a medical professional will cut through the tissue, which frees the tongue.

How common is hairy tongue?

Maintaining good oral hygiene is important in preventing and treating incidences of hairy tongue. However, in rare cases, medicine or surgery may be needed to treat the condition. The unpleasant appearance of hairy tongue may cause some psychological discomfort or embarrassment, but it is usually a harmless condition with no other symptoms. If lifestyle changes have not been successful in treating the condition, a doctor or dentist may recommend further evaluation and a more focused treatment.

Hairy Tongue

tongue with hair

Don’t let any pain, color changes, or new lumps go undiagnosed. Still, it’s important to keep track of any changes in your tongue throughout the year. Not all cases are life threatening, but Kawasaki disease may increase the risk of heart complications if left untreated. As these vitamin deficiencies are resolved, you’ll notice an improved appearance in your tongue. Some cases are benign, while others could lead to cancer. First, it’s important to gain a sense of what’s normal for a tongue.

How is oral hairy leukoplakia treated?

The patient’s tongue improved substantially after 2 months. Tongue pain, including soreness and burning, is one of the most common tongue problems. Usually, tongue pain results from infection and inflammation. How your tongue looks, feels, moves and functions can provide clues about your health.

Medical Professionals

Have a doctor diagnose any new soreness or bumps on the tongue. Soreness and bumps may be even more concerning if you’re also experiencing pain. Generally speaking, any significant changes in color or the development of pain and lumps may indicate a health problem.

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Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) can also make tongue movement difficult. With this condition, your frenum (the band of tissue that connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth) is too short. Your tongue can tell you a lot about your overall health.

Taking good care of your tongue keeps it healthy and reduces the risk of harmful oral bacteria. If your tongue becomes sore or changes in appearance, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider right away. They can help identify the problem and determine if your symptoms are related to an underlying condition. According to one source, black hairy tongue, or lingua villosa nigra, is a harmless condition in which the filiform papillae become enlarged and discolored, resembling hairs. The symptoms of oral hairy leukoplakia may look like other health conditions or problems.

When to see a doctor

Small bumps on the tongue may be caused by common injury or irritation, while bumps that get bigger or worse over time may signal an underlying health condition. Tongue bumps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on what is causing the bumps. There are many different types of conditions that affect the tongue, including ones that cause the tongue to change color or texture. It’s when your tongue is too big compared to the rest of your mouth.

Thick, black 'hairs' coated a man's tongue. Here's why. - Livescience.com

Thick, black 'hairs' coated a man's tongue. Here's why..

Posted: Wed, 09 Mar 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

It is also essential to maintain a nutritious and well-balanced diet, containing a good balance of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and minimal sugar to promote oral health. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

The other benefit is that they can add color without using ammonia, and they’re typically demi-permanent. This means they’ll last longer than semi-permanent colors, but they’re also not fully permanent if you don’t want to commit to anything too drastic. Cancer cells can develop from the squamous cells in the mouth, including the tongue. One of the symptoms of tongue cancer, specifically, is a lump on the side of the tongue that is gray-pink or red, touches the teeth, and bleeds easily if it's touched or bitten. Still, a white tongue may signal a yeast or bacterial infection.

They can determine what’s causing the condition and find ways to keep your tongue healthy. With hairy tongue, the tiny bumps on the surface of the tongue become bigger, looking similar to small hairs. The surface also changes color, often becoming brown or black. You don’t need to see a doctor for hairy tongue unless the treatments you try at home, such as practicing good oral hygiene, aren’t successful. If that’s the case, make an appointment with your doctor or dentist to talk about your options.

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