Question:
This evening I notice little black spots on my tounge, what could it be?

I just so happened to look in the mirror and for some reason I stuck my tounge out to see what it looked like (don't laugh I know everyone does it). I found little black spots. Now, me thinking that it might be some residue from dinner or something, tried to scrape it off. Well, it didn't come off. I'm kinda freaked out, I don't know what it might be. My first thought is some kind of nutrition disorder. Can someone help me out? Has anyone else experienced this?    — Irene M. (posted on November 13, 2002)

November 12, 2002
Were you eating any hard candy? The coloring in candy can stain the tongue and wouldn't come off right away just by brushing. If you're sure it isn't from food, I'd get it checked out right away because I've seen pictures of a condition called *black hairy tongue* (BHT) and it can spread to the whole tongue and looks disgusting. Here's some basic info on BHT: The surface of your tongue has hundreds of tiny fingerlike projections called papillae. Taste buds lie among these projections. The papillae grow constantly, and the top layer of cells normally wears away. In some people, these cells are not removed and the papillae grow unusually long. When this occurs, the papillae easily trap debris as well as bacteria that are normally present in the mouth. The bacteria multiply, producing a dark area on the tongue. The color is produced because the bacteria are chromogenic, meaning they reflect different colors as part of their metabolism. Black hairy tongue refers to the color of the bacteria (which can appear dark or black) and the overgrown papillae, which give the tongue a hairy or furry appearance. The condition is benign and is not an infection; it's something like moss growing on a rock. It isn't treatable with antibiotics and doctors/dentists will most often recommend brushing the teeth and tongue twice a day and also at that time using a tongue scraper. It is usually preventable by scraping the tongue daily anyway, when you brush your teeth. You are at a higher risk to develop BHT if you: Are taking certain types of antibiotics (which can upset the balance of oral bacteria); Are undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for head and neck cancer; Have uncontrolled diabetes or other systemic conditions; Smoke Again, I don't know if this is what you have, but if it doesn't go away soon, get it checked out by a doctor. Good luck!
   — Lynette B.

November 12, 2002
Hi, if you go to this webpage, it will show you pictures of black hairy tongue, and tell you all about it. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003047.htm Good Luck
   — Amy Hoffman

November 12, 2002
Sounds like thrush (a yeast infection)to me. I had it post op from the antibiotics I was on for a post op pneumonia, but you can get one just from changing the balance of your system (stress!) Docs will usually give you a liquid (like nystatin)to swish with, but I think they take way too long. Had my doc order mycelex troches...you dissolve them in your mouth, and they do the trick pretty fast.
   — Denise W.

November 12, 2002
See your doctor, this could be your esophogus bleeding from excessive reflux damage to the tissue. The black is sometimes clotted blood mixed with bile that gets on your tongue at night.
   — J C.

November 12, 2002
ummmmm ick. Useful information, though
   — Karen N.

November 13, 2002
Once, I got a spotty black tongue. My Doctor told me certain ingredients in Pepto Bismo type products can cause this. Are you taking something similar?
   — Ruby S.