You wake up one morning and the middle of your tongue is black. And it’s going to get worse. What happened? When the tongue starts talking and sending us messages, it’s a sign that there’s a problem not just with the tongue but with the entire digestive system.
Black Hairy Tongue: Definition
The tongue turns black and takes on a strange, hair-like appearance. Hence the name “black tongue”. There is nothing big about it. So what is it? We will tell you everything.
The tongue gradually turned black. First you look in the mirror and see that the middle of your tongue is black. Like if you drink black coffee. But as the days went by, it continued.
And the colors became real. You look like you’re eating coal. If you wait a little longer, you will see small hairs forming on your tongue. It is your expanding buds that give them their “hairy” appearance. It is no fun when this happens! It does not hurt, but there is more to beauty…
What causes it: Why does my tongue turn black (yeast infection, antibiotics, etc.)?
Tongue color (yellow, brown, black, etc.) and the microbiome
To understand what causes a dark tongue, we need to think of the oral cavity as a place to live. All the vegetation is there. Beneficial organisms, including bacteria and microorganisms, thus maintaining the overall balance of the plant. Did you know that there are more external viruses than in our brains? Without these bacteria, we would not be alive. And this ecosystem is also present in our mouths. However, in some cases of infection, the flora in our mouth can be attacked and the balance can be disrupted. If the pH of our tongue becomes acidic, the bacteria that maintain this balance are affected. The color of your tongue (especially the black appearance of the tongue) may be one of the symptoms.
white spots on the tongue and burning
Fungal infections can also appear as large white deposits with burning: the fungal infection is Candida albicans.
Which medications or antibiotics can cause black hairs on the tongue?
This black tongue often occurs after the use of antibiotics, antiretroviral therapy, or diseases that lower the immune system (such as HIV). or when there is an autoimmune disease. Some mouthwashes that contain astringents can darken the tongue and cause halitosis (bad breath) if used excessively. Black discoloration may occur from oral bismuth preparations.
Radiation therapy focused on the throat or tongue can cause the tongue to darken (due to damage to the salivary glands, which affect the microbial bacterial balance in the mouth). Which diseases: fungal infection, black tongue
Black tongue or black hairy tongue corresponds to the elongation of the retrolingual papilla. Ecosystems are affected, symbiotic relationships between organisms are threatened and fungi proliferate. So it is a fungal infection, mycosis or infection. The fungus usually responsible for this condition is Candida: Candida geotrichum, diminutive name. Changes in the tongue microbiome can also promote the growth of fungal infections, causing the tongue to become yellow or brown. Remember that it is not the tongue that is affected by this type of Candida, but the entire digestive system (the tongue is only part of the digestive system). You can’t hear it. It doesn’t hurt and doesn’t affect swallowing. In the worst case, you may feel a burning sensation in your mouth.
Treatment: How to get rid of black tongue?
Since we know that the candida infection that causes this black tongue is due to an imbalance in the oral flora, it is clear that the treatment will involve finding the balance. To do this, it is necessary to prevent anything that will upset this balance. In the past, black tongue was treated with Vichy Sant Jole water or baking soda, both of which are alkaline. This will help to restore the balance in your mouth and reduce the acidity.
If the cause is antibiotics, the use of antibiotics should be stopped (of course, if possible and with the advice of your doctor). If the cause is using the wrong mouthwash (which sometimes happens! Too much or too much mouthwash), then you should reduce the amount of mouthwash you use.
When the treatment that caused the conflict in the mouth is stopped, the fungus needs to be removed. Therefore, antifungal treatment may be necessary. After stopping the antibiotic, your doctor will give you an oral antibiotic. You will use this antibiotic as a mouthwash. When resistance develops, antibiotic treatment should be repeated to prevent recurrence.
Take care of your mouth
Good dental hygiene includes brushing to prevent oral disease. But good oral care also includes regular tooth brushing. Why? When you eat, food is on your tongue. They will not necessarily disappear. This food is stored by slightly protruding papillae on the tongue. Then normal decay occurs with bacterial growth. This is what causes bad breath! This decay produces volatile sulfonated compounds called esters. That’s the flavor!