Yes, there is a condition that we call black hairy tongue. It is when the top surface of the tongue appears dark and furry. It is the buildup of dead cells on the taste buds of our tongue as they grow too long and do not shed as quickly as they normally do. It may look bad but is not painful and will not cause health issues. Usually, it will go away by itself with time. Some things that can contribute to this entity are changes in the mouth’s normal bacteria due to antibiotics or using hydrogen peroxide rinses too often. Dry mouth or drinking substantial amounts of strong alcohol can also contribute to its frequency as well. Having too soft of a diet may also not help to remove dead cells from the tongue and thus help cause this. Irritants or foods or drinks that can also dry one’s mouth may also lead to this appearance. As some of you know, when we see patients with certain gum issues I may recommend using diluted hydrogen peroxide rinses in some capacity. When I do so I advise only doing it once a week to avoid this potential side effect. Overall, it is not a health issue, but the appearance can be alarming. We usually recommend brushing the tongue twice daily very gently and avoid anything that we think might be causing this.
(The information contained in this article is strictly for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the professional knowledge or advice of your personal dentist.)
