When examined at a medical center, the patient is often asked to show his tongue as an indicator of health. By its appearance, a doctor of the highest category will be able to tell which organ system requires a detailed examination. Normally, the tongue is pink-red with a uniform surface and sometimes turns an unusual color - black, which can scare anyone. But today we will talk about whether such changes are always a sign of pathology, and also dwell on the causes of a rare symptom, methods of elimination, and prevention.
Should I worry?
When conducting an initial diagnosis, the doctor will pay attention to the thickness of the plaque, color intensity and other features. The most important sign of a specific pathology is the localization of layers on different parts of the tongue:
- Damage to the tip
indicates problems with the heart and blood vessels. - Coloration going deep into the organ
indicates breathing pathologies. - Spots on the central part
towards the root indicate diseases of the digestive canal. - On the sides
- about dysfunction of the spleen and liver.
The coating also varies in consistency. It can be greasy, curdled, wet or dry. In terms of area of distribution, it sometimes looks like clear spots, small inclusions, or completely covers the tongue. It is also important how the plaque is removed:
- Painless, but difficult.
- In the form of film.
- It is difficult and accompanied by severe pain.
Black deposits also appear against the background of other symptoms, such as:
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Thirst.
- Bad breath.
- Pain in different parts of the body.
- Fever.
- Yellowness, pallor or bluishness of the skin.
- Losing weight.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Heartburn, belching.
Such symptoms are only part of the overall picture. It will differ for a particular patient with a certain pathology. A black coating on the tongue can be a temporary phenomenon, caused by the influence of food pigments, both chemical and natural. There are many of the latter in blueberries, black currants, and mulberries. In such cases, there is definitely no reason to worry.
A similar situation develops after taking liquid iron-containing drugs or activated carbon. Slight darkening of the surface of the tongue occurs in those who like sweets with dark dyes, coffee or tea. It is not difficult to eliminate such plaque; just rinse your mouth several times or exclude the corresponding foods from your diet. It’s another matter when the nature of the symptom is related to the source of the pathological property.
What should you pay attention to?
If a person is healthy, his tongue will have a red-pinkish tint with a dense and uniform surface. If a yellowish or white coating appears in the morning after waking up, or after eating, there is no need to worry - this is a completely normal phenomenon.
In order not to miss the development of serious pathology, it is recommended to carefully examine your tongue every morning. Attention should be paid to the following features:
- areas of plaque location;
- plaque color;
- tongue mobility;
- surface structure;
- the appearance of acne, ulcers and other unusual symptoms.
Based on the condition of the tongue, you can determine how correctly the internal organs are working and promptly consult a doctor for help.
Causes of black plaque
Factors that cause plaque in adults are associated with the following conditions:
- Acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis) and other infectious diseases.
- Long-term use of antibacterial agents, as a result of which the immune system weakens and dysbacteriosis develops.
- Slagging of the body.
- Excess weight.
- Violation of metabolic processes.
- Abuse of fatty foods and high-carbohydrate foods.
Crohn's disease is a rare autoimmune pathology. The melanin pigment is concentrated in the form of dark blue spots on the skin, tongue papillae and other mucous tissues. The condition occurs when the basic function of the adrenal glands is suppressed, and the organs of the digestive canal become inflamed. Treatment is carried out using hormonal and antibacterial agents, as well as immunosuppressants. The color of the tongue is restored as you recover. The plaque cannot be washed off by any other means.
Indications for examination
An accurate diagnosis of the appearance of black plaque can be made through a series of examinations:
- Taking bacterial cultures of the flora from the mucous membrane of the tongue.
- A coprogram that allows you to identify intestinal diseases.
- Abdominal ultrasound if liver problems are possible.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Fibrogastroduodenoscopy to detect gastric ulcers.
Based on these examinations, the disease that caused this symptom will be determined.
How to treat black tongue
Complete elimination of a symptom depends on the source of its occurrence. This is what therapy is aimed at, including various methods, such as:
- Compliance with a special diet if the cause of plaque is gastrointestinal pathology.
- Medicines to combat inflammation, pathogenic bacteria and associated symptoms.
- Physiotherapy.
- Folk remedies.
- Surgical intervention in difficult situations when other treatment methods have proven ineffective.
Effective formulations include tinctures and decoctions for rinsing the mouth. They are based on the following medicinal plants;
- Linden;
- oregano;
- yarrow;
- chamomile;
- plantain;
- oak bark;
- mint;
- sage;
- strawberries;
- flax seeds.
In what cases is this not dangerous?
Black plaque is not always a sign of a dangerous disease.
A dark layer on the tongue may appear after eating foods that can color the tongue - for example, chocolates, blueberries, activated charcoal and other things that contain dye.
In such a situation, it will be quite enough to simply rinse your mouth thoroughly, and then examine your tongue again.
If the plaque remains, it means that the cause is clearly not in the products and then you will need to visit a doctor.
Child's black tongue
If you exclude markers, paints, and food, then most often the problem with a dark tongue in a child is associated with candidiasis (thrush). The reason is simple - the baby began to be fed ahead of schedule. A black tongue in an older child may be a sign of pathologies of the gallbladder, colitis, gastritis, and enteritis. A gray coloration on the tongue appears in a child if he is treated with iron-containing compounds.
It is difficult for parents to independently understand the etiology of the problem. Only passing the necessary tests and diagnostics will help the doctor find and eliminate the cause of the symptom. At the initial stage, this specialist becomes a pediatrician, then a dentist or an infectious disease specialist joins, depending on the diagnosis.
Diagnostic and treatment methods
Before prescribing treatment, a specialist must conduct a thorough diagnosis. To do this, he carefully examines the patient’s oral cavity, asks him about complaints, and analyzes the medical history. To make an accurate diagnosis, the following diagnostic procedures can be prescribed - blood and urine tests, bacterial culture from the oral cavity. Other doctors may prescribe tests such as coprogram (stool analysis), FGS to assess the condition of the stomach and esophagus. An abdominal ultrasound may also be needed.
Only with the diagnostic results in hand can the attending physician narrow the range of possible causes of the problem and, if necessary, refer the patient to a highly specialized doctor - a gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist.
Only the attending physician can determine the cause of the plaque
If the dark tongue is the result of a dental disease, the patient will be asked to undergo a complete sanitation of the oral cavity and eliminate the root cause of this phenomenon. In the presence of pathogenic microflora, antibiotics are prescribed, and in case of intoxication, detoxification procedures will be required to cleanse the body and restore normal blood composition. If we are talking about infectious diseases associated with the genitourinary system, the direction of further treatment will be chosen by a specialized specialist.
Prevention
Dark spots on the tongue will never bother you if you follow the following rules and recommendations:
- Minimize the consumption of spicy, fatty, carbonated water, coffee.
- Maintain good oral hygiene. In addition to teeth, clean the inside of your cheeks, gums, and tongue. Teach children to this. Use plant extracts for rinsing. Don't skimp on toothpaste.
- Get rid of bad habits: smoking and alcohol abuse.
- When treating with antibacterial compounds, strictly follow medical recommendations.
- Expand the amount of physical activity in accordance with age and health status.
- Add bran, fruits, and vegetables to the menu. Nutritious smoothies are beneficial. Instead of black tea, drink mint, strawberry, linden or other herbal tea.
- If you are prone to sore throat, try not to injure the mucous membrane of the throat, for which purpose eat dishes in the form of puree. Inhalation is carried out using sea buckthorn or fir oil.
- If a child’s tongue turns black, consult a pediatrician to find out what new food triggered such a symptom, so that you can then help the child adapt painlessly. Treatment methods for children do not differ from those for adults. Great care and smaller dosages will be required, as determined by your doctor.
- Baby food should be natural and consist of fresh products. On the recommendation and under the supervision of a pediatrician, vitamin and mineral complexes can be given to the child to strengthen the immune system.
Do not practice self-medication, which rarely ends well. If the condition worsens, immediately contact a doctor. Regularly visit an ENT doctor, dentist and other specialists for preventive purposes. Bitter salt for cleansing the intestines, you can find out at the link.
Preventive measures
To minimize the risk of black plaque formation, you should ensure proper oral hygiene, as well as systematically undergo preventive examinations at the dentist's office. Professional cleaning of dental enamel from plaque will help prevent the proliferation and spread of harmful microorganisms. When brushing your teeth every day, special attention should be paid to cleaning your tongue, because it is where a huge amount of bacteria accumulates. Experts also recommend rinsing your mouth and using floss after each meal. Proper oral care and taking care of your health in general will eliminate the vast majority of factors that can provoke the development of such an unpleasant symptom.
- Grigorieva G.A., Meshalkina N.Yu. Crohn's disease, 2007.
What to do with all this
The most important thing that doctors (including Dr. Komarovsky) advise in such a situation is not to panic and try to treat the child with traditional methods or advice from the Internet. In any case, you should visit your pediatrician for an examination and possible further examination. This is especially true if the child complains of weakness and high temperature.
- The effect of food coloring . It is necessary to temporarily remove all coloring foods from the baby’s diet and everything will go away on its own and without a trace. To speed up this process, you can thoroughly clean the surface of the tongue with a soft toothbrush and continue to monitor the quality of your child’s oral hygiene.
- Plaque of fungal origin . You should not try to remove it. Treatment in such cases will consist of taking antifungal drugs in combination with treating the oral cavity with antiseptic solutions.
- Pathology of the digestive system . Elimination of the root cause leads to the rapid disappearance of any manifestations of black tongue. In the treatment of dysbiosis, eubiotic preparations (Linnex, Lacidofil, Bifidumbacterin and others) are good helpers, as well as following a gentle but rational diet.
- Hypovitaminosis . They are well corrected with complex vitamin preparations, with treatment with which all symptoms go away very quickly.
- Black hairy tongue . In this case, there is no specific therapy. This phenomenon most often goes away on its own. It is necessary to apply only preventive measures and treat the child’s oral cavity with antiseptic solutions.
Despite the fact that most often the causes of a black tongue in a child do not threaten his health, a visit to the pediatrician’s office should not be ignored. Only a specialist will help determine why such a problem appeared and how quickly it can be solved.
Treatment options
Having analyzed the reasons for the appearance of black plaque, let’s move on to treatment. Only a doctor can determine the disease and prescribe appropriate treatment. Such treatment may be taking medications that improve intestinal microflora or reduce inflammatory processes in the digestive organs.
If the cause of the plaque is intoxication of the body, you will need to ensure that you drink plenty of fluids; if you are not eating properly, you will need to reconsider your diet. If black plaque appears due to incorrect oral hygiene, the following recommendations will help cope with the problem:
- Use a soft toothbrush to clean your tongue, moving it from the root of the tongue to its tip.
- Wipe the surface of the tongue daily with a 10% solution of resocin. This product has a cauterizing, astringent and disinfectant effect, and also accelerates recovery processes.
- Wipe your tongue with salicylic alcohol several times a day - it has antiseptic properties and successfully helps fight bacteria that have settled in the mouth.
- Take a decoction of plantain, oregano, and yarrow.
- An infusion of flax seeds or oak bark also effectively helps to cope with black plaque on the tongue.
These treatments will only be effective if the darkening of the tongue is the result of poor oral hygiene. In any case, if such a symptom is detected, you should immediately consult a doctor.
If symptoms are observed that indicate any problem in the body, mandatory consultation with a specialist is required.
