eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Oral Mucosa

Hairy Tongue: Multimedia

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

Multimedia

Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged woman who dri...
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Media file 1: Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged woman who drinks coffee. Note how the condition is limited to the mid-dorsal part of the tongue, becoming more prominent toward the posterior part.
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Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged woman who dri...

Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged woman who drinks coffee. Note how the condition is limited to the mid-dorsal part of the tongue, becoming more prominent toward the posterior part.

Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged man who smoke...
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Media file 2: Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged man who smokes cigarettes. The condition is limited to the posterior two thirds of the dorsal surface of the tongue.
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Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged man who smoke...

Brown hairy tongue in a middle-aged man who smokes cigarettes. The condition is limited to the posterior two thirds of the dorsal surface of the tongue.

Close-up view of the patient in Media File 2.
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Media file 3: Close-up view of the patient in Media File 2.
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Close-up view of the patient in Media File 2.

Close-up view of the patient in Media File 2.

This patient is a middle-aged woman who drank cof...
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Media file 4: This patient is a middle-aged woman who drank coffee and smoked cigarettes for many years. Her chief complaint was a tickling sensation in the oral pharynx during swallowing. The slight greenish cast to her tongue was due to the use of a mouthwash immediately prior to her appointment.
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This patient is a middle-aged woman who drank cof...

This patient is a middle-aged woman who drank coffee and smoked cigarettes for many years. Her chief complaint was a tickling sensation in the oral pharynx during swallowing. The slight greenish cast to her tongue was due to the use of a mouthwash immediately prior to her appointment.

This male geriatric patient had smoked a pipe for...
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Media file 5: This male geriatric patient had smoked a pipe for many years. He was unaware of the presence of his hairy tongue until it was brought to his attention during a routine dental examination.
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This male geriatric patient had smoked a pipe for...

This male geriatric patient had smoked a pipe for many years. He was unaware of the presence of his hairy tongue until it was brought to his attention during a routine dental examination.

The same patient as in Image 5 one month followin...
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Media file 6: The same patient as in Image 5 one month following his initial examination. While he has not decreased his pipe smoking, he has gently brushed the dorsal surface of his tongue when he brushes his teeth during the intervening 4 weeks. The hairy tongue has completely resolved.
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The same patient as in Image 5 one month followin...

The same patient as in Image 5 one month following his initial examination. While he has not decreased his pipe smoking, he has gently brushed the dorsal surface of his tongue when he brushes his teeth during the intervening 4 weeks. The hairy tongue has completely resolved.

Middle-aged woman with a hairy tongue that is bro...
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Media file 7: Middle-aged woman with a hairy tongue that is brown.
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Middle-aged woman with a hairy tongue that is bro...

Middle-aged woman with a hairy tongue that is brown.

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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  4. Pigatto PD, Spadari F, Meroni L, Guzzi G. Black hairy tongue associated with long-term oral erythromycin use. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Nov 2008;22(10):1269-70. [Medline].

  5. Kostka E, Wittekindt C, Guntinas-Lichius O. [Tongue coating, mouth odor, gustatory sense disorder - earlier and new treatment options by means of tongue scraper]. Laryngorhinootologie. Aug 2008;87(8):546-50. [Medline].

  6. [Guideline] New York State Department of Health. Oral health management of children and adolescents with HIV infections. New York State Department of Health. Jun 2004.

  7. [Guideline] Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of candidiasis: 2009 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Mar 2009.

  8. [Guideline] Singapore Ministry of Health. Nursing management of oral hygiene. Singapore Ministry of Health. Dec 2004.

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  19. Langtry JA, Carr MM, Steele MC, Ive FA. Topical tretinoin: a new treatment for black hairy tongue (lingua villosa nigra). Clin Exp Dermatol. May 1992;17(3):163-4. [Medline].

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  29. Regezi JA, Sciubba JJ, Jordan RCK. Oral Pathology - Clinical Pathologic Correlations. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2003.

  30. Salonen L, Axell T, Hellden L. Occurrence of oral mucosal lesions, the influence of tobacco habits and an estimate of treatment time in an adult Swedish population. J Oral Pathol Med. Apr 1990;19(4):170-6. [Medline].

  31. Sapp JP, Eversole LR, Wysocki GP. Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby-Year Book; 2004.

  32. Sarti GM, Haddy RI, Schaffer D, Kihm J. Black hairy tongue. Am Fam Physician. Jun 1990;41(6):1751-5. [Medline].

  33. Winzer M, Gilliar U. [Hairy tongue and hairy oral leukoplakia--a differential histopathologic diagnosis]. Z Hautkr. Jun 15 1988;63(6):517-20. [Medline].

  34. Winzer M, Gilliar U, Ackerman AB. Hairy lesions of the oral cavity. Clinical and histopathologic differentiation of hairy leukoplakia from hairy tongue. Am J Dermatopathol. Apr 1988;10(2):155-9. [Medline].

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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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