# Have you experienced Black Hair Tongue from using Mouthwash too much or too long? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116 "2014-05-23T18:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![1jow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/dbc845/32.png) [@1jow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1jow)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/1 "2014-05-23T18:14:20Z")
Have you experienced Black Hair Tongue from using Mouthwash too much or too long? 1. Repeatedly I have experienced Black Hair Tongue approx the last 2-3 yrs (using a scraper). 2. My Hygienist @ 4 mo cleanings started noticing this while trying to control my gun disease. 3. I felt using the Zero Alcohol M/W longer and more often would help the cleaning matter. 4. After reading a bit, I feel the peroxide (in M/W) could be causing Black Hair Tongue but improved cleaning. 5. If this is the case, I guess the bacteria could be affecting my allergies and eczema in and behind ears? ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/2 "2014-05-23T18:55:34Z")
You haven’t just been sneaking Pepto Bismol have you? ---
**Author:** ![1jow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/dbc845/32.png) [@1jow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1jow)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/3 "2014-05-23T20:06:08Z")
1. Will Pepto Bismol cause Black Hair Tongue? 2. I did read coffee might have some affect. I drink one cup daily, that brown color is definite the color of the long Black Hair. 3. Could post nasal drip from allergies be causing the problem (termed harmless bad hygiene)? 4. The excess growth comes off fairly easy with a toothbrush or tongue scrapper when noticed (except from gagging trying to clean the back). ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/4 "2014-05-23T21:45:42Z")
Are we supposed to know what Black Hair Tongue\* _is_? \*Capitalizing it doesn’t make it sound more legit, just makes it sound like a band name. ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/5 "2014-05-23T22:00:32Z")
[Blacktöngue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deatht%C3%B6ngue#Notable_storylines)? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/6 "2014-05-23T22:16:35Z")
> [@1jow](#): > > 1. My Hygienist @ 4 mo cleanings started noticing this while trying to control my gun disease. Well, that’s your problem. Your hygienist doesn’t believe in the Second Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/7 "2014-05-23T22:20:21Z")
Black Hair Tongue was a Soundgarden song. Black hair tongue, won’t you come, and wash away the rain? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/8 "2014-05-23T22:21:39Z")
1.) I don’t know what black hair tongue is. 2.) Thanks Bag of Mostly Water. 3.) What’s gun disease? 4.) Why am I numbering my sentences? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/9 "2014-05-23T22:46:27Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Are we supposed to know what Black Hair Tongue\* _is_? > > \*Capitalizing it doesn’t make it sound more legit, just makes it sound like a band name. > **[Black hairy tongue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hairy_tongue)** > > Black hairy tongue syndrome (BHT) is a condition of the tongue in which the small bumps on the tongue elongate with black or brown discoloration, giving a black and hairy appearance. The appearance may be alarming, but it is a harmless condition. Predisposing factors include smoking, xerostomia (dry mouth), soft diet, poor oral hygiene and certain medications. Management is facilitated by improving oral hygiene, especially scraping or brushing the tongue. > Hairy tongue largely occurs in the cent... ---
**Author:** ![1jow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/dbc845/32.png) [@1jow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1jow)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/10 "2014-05-23T23:07:20Z")
Please excuse my errors and insults. I see some good info found below vs personal experience. Have A Good Holiday! The name black hairy tongue may sound scary, but the condition is harmless. Black hairy tongue is caused by bacteria or fungi in the mouth, which make the tongue appear black and hairy. It’s easily remedied by good old-fashioned oral hygiene. What Causes Black Hairy Tongue? A black hairy tongue is caused by too much bacteria or yeast growth in the mouth. The bacteria build up on tiny rounded projections called papillae. These lie along the surface of the tongue. Instead of shedding as they normally do, the papillae start to grow and lengthen, creating hair-like projections. They can grow to 15 times their normal length. Normally, the papillae are pinkish-white. But as they grow, pigments from food, drinks, and possibly the bacteria or yeast themselves get caught in the papillae, dyeing the tongue a color. Most often that color is black, hence the name. But the tongue can also turn brown, yellow, green, or a variety of other colors. Certain lifestyle habits and conditions can make people more likely to develop black hairy tongue. They include: •poor oral hygiene •smoking tobacco •drinking a lot of coffee or tea •using antibiotics (which may disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth) •being dehydrated taking medications that contain the chemical bismuth (such as Pepto- •Bismol for upset stomach) •not producing enough saliva •regularly using mouthwash that contains peroxide, witch hazel, or menthol •getting radiation therapy to the head and neck ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/11 "2014-05-23T23:21:57Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > [Black hairy tongue - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hairy_tongue) Thanks…now, where’s my eyeball soap? ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/12 "2014-05-24T02:25:38Z")
Zithromax, the Z pa ```php ``` ck,can cause this condition. The way it works is that the flora on your mouth are in a sort of equilibrium. Antibiotics kill certain groups of the bacteria and when they are killed the other fungi and bacteria no longer have competition for resources and can flourish. You should discontinue the mouthwash and eat some yogurt. ---
**Author:** ![1jow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/dbc845/32.png) [@1jow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1jow)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/13 "2014-05-24T02:51:14Z")
Thanks! I have had 2-3 Z Packs in 2-3 years related to my allergies or dental needs. My mouthwash will become secondary to my brushing/scrapping until I get a balanced Gut per my GP Dr. Please suggest a link related to yogurt helping in this matter. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/14 "2014-05-24T05:12:57Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > [Black hairy tongue - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hairy_tongue) Why, why why? Why!?!!?! Dear god why ??? Anyone know how to get dental floss around the back of the eyeball to scrape away the image? ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/15 "2014-05-24T05:46:45Z")
I thought tonsil stones were gross, but THIS!!!?? The breath of a black-tongued person must be horrific, like silent but deadly flatulence of Satan. ---
**Author:** ![BDBoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@BDBoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDBoop)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/16 "2014-05-24T05:56:48Z")
Oh, sure. I pick THIS thread to make a reappearance. Gah!! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-experienced-black-hair-tongue-from-using-mouthwash-too-much-or-too-long/689116/17 "2014-05-24T14:56:25Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Black Hair Tongue was a Soundgarden song. Black hair tongue, won’t you come, and wash away the rain? …OK, now do you have a cure for earworm? :smack: 😃