Contents:
- Medical Video: What Your Tongue Says About Your Health
- Is that a hairy tongue?
- What is the cause of a hairy tongue?
- Symptoms of a hairy tongue
- How to deal with a hairy tongue
Medical Video: What Your Tongue Says About Your Health
Hairy tongue, may sound ridiculous, but this condition can happen. Maybe you imagine feathers growing on the tongue like fine hair on the skin or like hair. In fact, the hair on the tongue is a little different. Actually, what caused this strange condition to appear? Can a hairy tongue be cured?
Is that a hairy tongue?
Hairy tongue is a medical condition that occurs when the surface of the tongue changes color and looks a lot of hair. Although imagining this condition is quite ridiculous and makes you uncomfortable, but the strange condition is not dangerous.
People who experience hairy tongues actually don't really have hair on their tongues. The feathers referred to in this case are small bumps on the surface of the tongue that experience changes in color and size. So, it looks like it looks like there are feathers that grow on the surface of the tongue.
The bulge can grow to reach 18 millimeters and can turn brown and blackish.
Under normal circumstances, the collection of lumps is called papillae. On the tongue, there are various types of papillae that are pink and contain taste buds. One of them is the filiform papilla which spreads throughout the surface of the tongue.
However, people who have a hairy tongue experience problems with the filiform papillae and keratin buildup occurs in that section. Coupled with food scraps and bacteria that accumulate in the same area, making filiform papillae change color to look like fur.
What is the cause of a hairy tongue?
Actually it is not known exactly why the tongue becomes hairy, but there are several factors that make this condition appear.
One of them, the application of a soft food diet. This diet makes people who do not get enough stimulation to the papilla, so that over time the nerves lose their ability.
Food will accumulate on the part of the tongue and invite bacteria to grow. That then makes your tongue feel hairy.
However, not only because of this factor you can immediately experience a hairy tongue. There are several other factors that make hairy tongues appear in your oral cavity, namely:
- Hygiene of the oral cavity that is less awake. A dirty oral cavity can become a hotbed of bacterial or fungal growth that triggers a hairy tongue
- Use of certain substances, such as: cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, coffee, or tea
- Dry mouth or dehydration. This condition makes the humidity of the oral cavity so poor that it is easier to experience a hairy tongue.
- Some medicines. Certain medications interfere with the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth. For example antibiotics, or stomach acid drugs.
Symptoms of a hairy tongue
In addition to the color of the tongue that changes and looks more hairy, there are other symptoms that may appear:
- Burning sensation on the tongue. This condition arises due to the effects of the growth of fungi or bacteria.
- There is tingling above the mouth when swallowing. This condition arises because the part of the filliform papillae becomes longer and easier to touch to the roof of the mouth. Some people who are too sensitive to this condition can experience choking.
- Bad breath known as halitosis. This odor is also caused by the growth of bacteria and fungi in the mouth.
- There is a metallic or iron taste in the mouth.
- Nausea. The discomfort that you feel in your oral cavity can also make you sick so your appetite decreases.
How to deal with a hairy tongue
Tongues that become hairy often only arise temporarily, and usually this is not a sign of a more serious problem. However, usually the trigger for the appearance of this hairy tongue is the result of lifelong habits, such as smoking. So, habits like this that certainly need to be avoided first.
Besides that you need to do is:
- Maintain oral hygiene by brushing your teeth properly, and rinsing your mouth when dirty or having eaten
- Clean the tongue regularly
- Stop using drugs that trigger hairy tongues.
- Stop bad habits such as smoking, alcohol use and some drugs that can cause hairy tongue
- Consider what you eat and drink. Liquid and dark colored food can give color to the papilla filliform tongue. Like black coffee, tea, and so on
If this hairy tongue does not go away, you should consult your doctor. The treatments usually given by doctors are:
- Antifungal or antibiotic prescription drugs
- Antiseptic mouthwash that can be bought freely
- Surgery to trim filliform papillae
