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For someone who maintains excellent oral health, seeing dark or black spots on your tongue is undoubtedly alarming. This condition is usually temporary and harmless. The tongue may appear slightly hairy with visible growths. Fortunately, these aren’t hairs as you might think; these are just primary signs of this condition.
Black dots on the tongue can be uncomfortable but are usually unserious and often resolve unnoticed without treatment. Although black spots on the tongue may not mean that you are in rude health, it can also be a symptom of something more severe if you have a particular hue or itching feeling.
However, this depends on how long the dark spot has been there and your medical history. This article discusses the black spot on tongue, its causes, symptoms, and effective treatments.
Dark spots on tongue, sometimes called a tongue birthmark, are tiny flecks or very noticeable patches, spots, or discolorations that form on the tongue. They are harmless but may pose significant problems in some cases. The black dots on the tongue usually occur due to some medications or drinks and the buildup of a protein called keratin on the tongue’s surface.
Bacteria or fungi overgrowth in the mouth can also make the tongue appear black. A dark spot on the tongue may be an indication of an accumulation of dead cells on the tongue. There are two kinds of black tongues which are:
The protein, keratin, covers the tongue’s skin and normally sheds dead skin cells. Sometimes, this buildup of dead skin cells on the papillae sheds abnormally and makes the tongue look black, discolored, and appear furry as well.
This results from a fungal infection, bacterial infection, or other oral diseases.
According to The Journal of Pharmacy and BioAllied Sciences, oral hyperpigmentation is a common condition that causes black, brown, blue, grey, or purple spots in the mouth. Hyperpigmentation is a term used to describe darker-looking skin, which can appear in tiny patches or over vast areas of the body. Excessive pigmentation causes the tongue to develop black patches or spots and does appear like black spots on the tongue. Hyperpigmentation can be a result of trapped bacteria in the filiform papillae. Tongue hyperpigmentation may also be a telltale sign of Addison’s disease or Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome.
Damages to the tongue can leave a dark-colored sore. Tongue injuries or oral piercings can cause black spots. A dark spot could be a persistent sign of injury damage. If the sore lingers, consult a doctor for treatment because it could be a sign of an infection.
When you do not regularly brush or scrape your teeth and tongue and rinse your mouth, dead skin cells accumulate on the tongue surface.
Brushing the tongue and regularly rinsing the mouth helps remove bacteria, dirt, and dead skin cells from the mouth, promoting good oral hygiene.
The Chlorogenic acid compound in coffee can stick to the tongue’s surface and cause discoloration. So if you often drink a lot of coffee or black tea, it will easily stain the papillae on the tongue surface. But one can easily avoid this with good oral hygiene.
The tongue has several tiny sensation receptors and taste buds that look like tiny black dots. A black dot on your tongue may be part of your tongue’s natural appearance. These taste buds are visible and will get discolored and look dark when things like coffee or red wine stain them.
Saliva washes away dead skin cells, and when you don’t produce sufficient saliva, dead skin cells will remain around your tongue.
The chemicals in some smoke can damage and discolor the surface of the tongue, which may result in black spots or patches. Smoking is also associated with other oral health issues, like tooth loss, periodontal diseases, or oral cancer.
If you smoke and have black spots on your tongue or other oral health issues, It is important to stop smoking and seek medical attention for any possible health problems.
Dark spots are rarely a sign of cancer, but when it is, the dark spots look like unhealed sores or scabs. Other symptoms of tongue cancer are swelling, difficulty in swallowing, and lumps. If you experience any of these symptoms, see a doctor. Treatment during the early stages of tongue cancer yields good results and is effective.
According to The Mayo Clinic, light grey spots on the tongue’s side may be a sign of leukoplakia which is related to autoimmune diseases, and it could be cancerous in some rare cases.
The side effect of some medications is dry mouth which makes it easy for dead skin cells to build up on the papillae.
A Birthmark on the tongue is normal and may appear like black spots.
Mostly, the black spots are the only symptom, but sometimes it is accompanied by feelings of nausea, burning sensation, and tingling. You may also experience:
Black spots on the tongue don’t need much treatment. Oral hygiene and regularly brushing your tongue will help remove stains and dead skin cells in a few days. If the spots go away after brushing, there is no need for further treatment. However, should spots persist after brushing, consult your doctor.
They will determine the root cause and may prescribe antibacterial or antifungal medications to manage the bacteria or yeast in the mouth. Retinoid medication may also be prescribed to increase cell turnover on the tongue.
You can take care of these black spots yourself by:
Dark or black spots on the tongue are harmless and temporary. With a few lifestyle modifications, fast improvement, and positive results will manifest. However, if the black spots are still noticeable after a week or two of post-treatment, consult with your doctor. The elongated papillae may need to be removed, or the dosage for your medication may need adjustment.