Black spots on tongues arouse panic and fear amongst many of us. It may be benign, but why risk it when it’s avoidable? Read this article to know more.

Black Spots On Tongue

Black spots on tongues certainly aren’t the most pleasant things in your morning reflection as you brush your teeth. If it’s any consolation, it is less repulsive than a black tongue! There are a couple of justified reasons behind the nasty appearance of these black spots.  Fortunately, there are remedies to restore your tarnished wagging speech instrument to the bubblegum tongue it used to be! Many refer to this ugly phenomenon has “black hairy tongue” which occur when the papillae on your tongue grow to an extent where bacteria and food debris gets entangled. A dermatologist will trace the source of these black spots and provide you with a list of preventive measures and medical remedies. The "black" connotation to your tongue is often regarded as a myth owing to the fact that this problem of abnormal papillae leads to the formation of unique shades in the back of the tongue varying from yellow, brown to white. Explore the rest of this article to update yourself about the causes, symptoms and treatment measures of black spots on a tongue. 

Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Black Spots On Tongue

Causes

Hyper-Pigmentation
Hyper pigmentation in most cases is genetic while under rare circumstances, it surfaces on its own. They typically appear as small black spots, either on the upper or lower surface of the tongue. The Alternative term to identify this condition is ‘oral fibroma’.

Oral Cancer
Cancer patients are marginally prone to generating black spots on the tongue. The cancerous tissues situated in the oral cavity inevitably cause disruption of its pigmentation, materializing in the form of black spots. However, such an occurrence in cancer patients is rare.

Hairy Tongue
When you go overboard and start to use tobacco excessively, chances of developing black spots on your tongue increase threefold. Irrespective of whether you chew tobacco or smoke it, the effects are regrettable. Frequent consumption of alcohol and antibiotics trigger the same reactions. This phenomenon is widely recognized as “hairy tongue” due to the bloodcurdling appearance of black hair on the tongue.

Tongue Piercing
Tongue piercings look cool, to most of us at least. But then it raises doubts as to how the hell do you eat without whimpering in pain? Turns out the side effects of getting your tongue pierced can be a whole lot worse. In some cases, healed tongue piercings leave behind dark marks on the surface of the tongue due to subsequent loss of pigmentation. With compromised pigmentation, the colour of the tongue fades away and mild black spots are produced.

Symptoms
You may experience the growth of a small bump as bacteria and food remains get entwined in your papillae. Trouble in swallowing and unbearable pain are the two most common symptoms borne by a victim of tongue black spots.

Treatment
  • If you notice more and more bacteria and food debris trapped in between your taste buds, it is advisable that you rush to the local physician or dentist to get the problem solved.
  • Post tongue piercing, pigmentation of the skin on the tongue will soon return to normal with appropriate medication and harmless surgery.
  • It is very essential that you keep your tongue clean and maintain oral hygiene. As you brush your teeth every day, try remembering to use a tongue cleaner. Maintaining hygiene is the safest way to keep black spots at bay.

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