Black/Hairy Tongue

A black, coated tongue is a temporary, harmless condition typically resulting from an overgrowth of bacteria and sometimes yeast in the mouth. These organisms accumulate on the tiny projections of the tongue — called papillae — and cause discoloration. Certain types of bacteria and yeast make red blood cell pigments (porphyrins), which can give the tongue a black appearance. In some cases, the tongue may also appear “hairy” due to more rapid growth of papillae or an interruption of the normal shedding of cells by the tongue.

Incoming search terms:

• porphyrin pigments in the oral cavity
• healthy tongue
• black pigmented bacteria
• hairy blood
• dark tongue papilla
• the health of the tongue
• tongue appearance and health
• porphyrin like pigment
• tongue papilla overgrowth
• black tongue