Forum on HIV and Oral Health: hairy tounge and OHL

Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

		hairy tounge and OHL Jan 18, 2001 i know that you are busy but i need to find out what i might be dealing with. i have a broken tooth which i have not taken care of yet. this happened about one year ago. i noticed a slight form of hairy tounge on the back of the tounge last spring, now it has gotten worse, i have stopped smoking for the time being to see if that helps but need to know what i should do, i am losing sleep. PLEASE HELP


		Response from Dr. Reznik Hairy tongue is a common condition, especially on the back portion of the tongue. Remember, hairy tongue is an elongation of the normal tongue papillae which act as a trap for bacteria. A broken tooth is also a reservoir for bacteria and fungi which could potentially exacerbate this condition. Ceasing to smoke will be helpful as will brushing this portion of your tongue. Finally, having the problem with your tooth addressed is very important to prevent pain and infection. DR

Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.

Copyright notice.

Our Mission and Team | Content Policy | Privacy Policy | Advertising and Sponsorship | Link to Us

The Body is a service of Body Health Resources Corporation, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Body Health Resources Corporation, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your healthcare provider.