my tongue has hiar on it approximatly 1/16th of an inch long it doesn't bother me but it makes my tongue look white. What is wrong? and how do i fix it?
2007-01-25 11:09:52 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
I always thought the white stuff was plaque or something. I get white stuff on my tongue too but I always easily brush it off when I brush my teeth... Not all of it comes off, but if I brush it for like 20 minutes it does eventually come off.
2007-01-25 11:15:25 · answer #1 · answered by * 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's not hair, it's extra keratin on your tongue. keratin is a white protein that your tongue naturally produces, and if you don't brush your tongue, it can build up and make it look "hairy". there is a small chance that it is hairy leukoplakia, which is caused by a virus. this is usually more on the edges of your tongue. i would try brushing your tongue gently with your toothbrush for a week or so to see if it clears up. about half of the patients i see have some amount of a hairy appearance to their tongue, so i wouldn't worry about it too much...but keep your mouth clean! :) i wouldn't think it would be oral candidiasis (or thrush).
2007-01-25 11:48:15 · answer #2 · answered by c8lin81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe it is hair you see but taste buds with food or bacteria trapped on them. I suggest seeing a doctor as a white coating on the tongue could mean a disease such as thrush (yeast infection of the mouth) It can spread to the throat and cause problems.
2007-01-25 11:32:32 · answer #3 · answered by seekingwidow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be normal, or it could be a yeast infection on your tongue (called thrush or candidiasis). If you don't want to go to the doctor, ask a pharmacist, usually they can give advice for small things like that. Don't panic, it is easily treatable once you see a doctor, and the pharmacist might even be able to recommend something for it. It might be as easy as eating some yogurt to cure it... the microbes in the yogurt will eat the yeast. Check the wiki article below for more info on it.
2007-01-25 11:19:49 · answer #4 · answered by agent0014 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Chemical imbalance. Dehydrated. Drink more fluids (especially clean water alone) not tea, coffee or cola - they will dehydrate you further. A little salt in the diet won't hurt either. Eat regular homecooked taters,veges, and meat type meals. It is not really hair, it is dead taste buds skins.
2007-01-25 11:23:03 · answer #5 · answered by ButwhatdoIno? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is not hair growing on your tongue..
that is a thick layer of plaque and bacteria..everyone gets it on their tongues..its a 24/7 thing that continues to constantly build up..
you need to brush your tongue with your toothbrush and toothpaste..I would suggest going to the store ( any store like wallmart) and buying a "Tongue Scraper" they are cheap and really work well...
2007-01-25 11:16:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Bert....It is NOT normal. It's a condition known as Oral Hairy Leucoplakia, and it's a sign that your immune system is down pretty bad. Get it checked out....soon.
It was at one time, considered to be a part of HIV/aids, but is not necessarily due to that!
2007-01-25 11:16:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
im pretty sure everyone has hairs on there tongue. just try scrubing your tongue with your tooth brush to make sure it clean.
2007-01-25 11:14:19 · answer #8 · answered by silverchair 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
let me guess.. smoker?
I'm not judging, I smoke too, but cigarettes can cause hair to grow on the tongue.
2007-01-25 11:14:18 · answer #9 · answered by Fluffington Cuddlebutts 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think youre normal. The oral part of the tongue is covered with small bumpy projections called papillae. There are four types of papillae:
* filiform (thread-shape)
* fungiform (mushroom-shape)
* circumvallate (ringed-circle)
* foliate
2007-01-25 11:14:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋