eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Oral Mucosa

Hairy Tongue: Follow-up

Author: Denis Lynch, DDS, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Dentistry, Office of the Dean, Marquette University
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jun 25, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • If hairy tongue is noted in a patient hospitalized for other reasons, instruct the nursing staff to encourage the patient to gently brush or scrape the tongue as necessary to debride the area. If the lesion persists, a dental consult is appropriate to rule out other clinically similar entities.

Further Outpatient Care

  • If hairy tongue is noted in a patient as part of a routine outpatient examination, encourage the patient to gently brush or scrape the tongue as necessary to debride the area. In addition, encourage the patient to consult a dentist.

Complications

  • The only complication associated with hairy tongue is an occasional candidal overgrowth, which often results in an uncomfortable glossopyrosis (burning tongue).
  • Altered taste sensation is a rare complication.

Prognosis

  • The prognosis for hairy tongue is excellent. If the precipitating factors cannot be adequately controlled or compensated for, patients may have to make tongue brushing or scraping part of their daily oral hygiene regimen.

Patient Education

  • Education regarding proper oral hygiene procedures is more easily provided to the patient as part of a routine dental appointment; however, encouragement in this regard is appropriate from any health care provider.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Hairy Tongue

Overview: Hairy Tongue
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Hairy Tongue
Treatment & Medication: Hairy Tongue
Follow-up: Hairy Tongue
Multimedia: Hairy Tongue
References
Further Reading
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References

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Further Reading

Clinical guidelines

Oral health management of children and adolescents with HIV infections. 6
New York State Department of Health - State/Local Government Agency [U.S.].  2003 (revised 2004 Jun).  9 pages.  NGC:003891

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of candidiasis: 2009 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 7
Infectious Diseases Society of America - Medical Specialty Society.  2004 Jan 15 (revised 2009 Mar 1).  33 pages.  NGC:007081

Nursing management of oral hygiene. 8
Singapore Ministry of Health - National Government Agency [Non-U.S.].  2004 Dec.  33 pages.  NGC:004285


Clinical Trials

Neurogenic Mechanisms in Burning Mouth Syndrome

Prevention of Oral Malodor With an Oral Sticker Containing Herbal Formula


Related eMedicine topics

Hairy Leukoplakia

Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

Oral Examination

Oral Manifestations of Systemic Diseases

Oral Frictional Hyperkeratosis

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Keywords

lingua nigra, lingua villosa, lingua villosa nigra, black hairy tongue, defective desquamation of the filiform papillae, poor oral hygiene, therapeutic radiation, glossopyrosis, burning tongue, Candida albicans, halitosis, hypertrophy of filiform papillae, tobacco use, coffee drinking, tea drinking

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Denis Lynch, DDS, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Dentistry, Office of the Dean, Marquette University
Denis Lynch, DDS, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Dental Association, International Association for Dental Research, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC, Professor Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, University of Toronto
Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Research Associates of Cincinnati
Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, and American Dental Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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