Are there hair on your tongue

As this happens, the elongated FP begin to look like hair. This is where the condition draws its name. Hairy tongue is often temporary and usually quite harmless. Hairy tongue is also relatively common. About 13 percent of the population will experience one form of hairy tongue at least once in their lifetimes.

Hairy tongue is more common in older people, though it can develop at any age. More than one type of hairy tongue exists, and each has several identifying characteristics.

They all also happen to have different causes. Understanding which type you have and what causes it can help you learn to treat it. For example, a lack of stimulation on the top of the tongue can prevent proper shedding. A person who eats a soft-food diet may not have enough stimulation in their diet to cause enough abrasion.

These include:. In addition, substances like bacteria and yeast can discolor the FP. As the FP grow longer, these substances can get caught in the hair-like structures, which can lead to greater discoloration. White hairy tongues may be the result of hairy leukoplakia. This condition causes small, white patches with hair-like texture.

These patches can grow to cover the entire tongue. Unlike black hairy tongue, hairy leukoplakia has very specific causes. The surface also changes color, often becoming brown or black. The upper surface of the tongue is rough in texture because it is covered in tiny, processes or protrusions called papillae.

There are several types of papillae, the most numerous of which are called filiform papillae. Filiform papillae are elongated, cone-shaped protrusions responsible for the gripping of food on the surface of the tongue. These structures usually grow to about 1 millimeter in length before they are shed from the tongue, allowing new ones to grow. Hairy tongue occurs when these filiform papillae do not shed properly, and there is a buildup of the skin protein known as keratin.

When this happens, food, bacteria, or yeast can accumulate in the over-keratinized filiform papillae network and cause odd discoloration. When shedding is delayed, filiform papillae continue to build up in the keratin and resemble the hair-like protrusions from which the condition takes its name. According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, hairy tongue is thought to affect around 13 percent of the population, but its prevalence varies in some groups.

For example, hairy tongue is much more common in individuals with certain drug addictions. The chances of hairy tongue developing increase with age, as the effects of risk factors, such as tobacco use, have more time to accumulate. Hairy tongue can take on a number of different colors, but some triggers will cause specific colors to develop. An example of this is black hairy tongue, which is associated with the consumption of tobacco, coffee, tea, or use of some mouthwashes.

The microscopic appearance of a tongue with oral hairy leukoplakia differs from that of hairy tongue, as the two conditions are different. The good news is that the condition looks a lot scarier than it is. It refers to tiny nubbins on the tongue, called papillae, that grow long and turn black.

In fact, it is the result of abnormal growth of the filiform papillae FP on your tongue, which usually sheds after reaching a length of 1 mm. Like skin cells, those on your tongue must regenerate. They have a life cycle that allows them to grow, serve their purpose, fall off, and regenerate. The condition is diagnosed when the filiform papillae continue to elongate instead of falling off, growing as much as 18 mm.

As they thrive, the FP is prone to collecting bacteria and fungi from various food sources you put in your mouth. Continuous buildup can also cause discoloration of the filiform papillae, thus, resembling hair. The leading cause of hairy tongue remains a mystery, but certain factors poor oral hygiene, medication, dehydration can increase your risk of developing the condition that roughly 13 percent of the population experience.