Horrifying image of Ohio man, 64, whose tongue turned green and hairy from rare reaction to cigarettes and antibiotics
An Ohio man’s tongue turned green and hairy from a rare side effect of smoking tobacco and taking a course of antibiotics.
The 64-year-old man went to a primary care clinic for a few weeks after noticing that his tongue had begun to change color.
About three weeks before the visit to the doctor, the man completed a course of the antibiotic clindamycin for gingivitis.
He also reported that he was a smoker. It’s unclear how long he smoked, and the case study authors didn’t specify whether the condition was specifically caused by smoking, antibiotic use, or a combination of the two.
But previous research shows that cigarettes can have a lasting impact on oral health, including by causing dental plaque and bacteria buildup. Meanwhile, antibiotics can alter the mouth’s microbiome, altering bacteria and causing them to accumulate on the tongue.
The 64-year-old man’s tongue turned green and hairy after smoking and taking antibiotics for gum disease. He recovered within six months, but continued to smoke
Doctors diagnosed the man with a hairy tongue, a condition characterized by an abnormal coating on the top surface of the tongue, known as the dorsal region.
A hairy tongue is caused by a buildup of dead skin cells on the parts of the tongue that contain taste buds, known as papillae. Papillae then become longer than normal, giving the tongue a hairy appearance.
They also trap other substances, such as bacteria and yeasts.
There are usually no symptoms, but in some cases there is a burning sensation on the tongue. This comes from the bacteria and yeast that build up on the surface of the tongue.
It affects about 13 percent of Americans, according to the American Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM).
A hairy tongue can occur at any age, but it is most common in old age. It is also more common in men than in women.
While the discoloration is usually black, the tongue can also turn brown, yellow, or green.
Smoking has long been shown to have harmful effects on oral health by causing a buildup of bacteria and plaque.
Antibiotics, similar to the ones the patient was taking, can also lead to the formation of new bacteria in the mouth, which can build up and result in a hairy tongue.
Risk factors include smoking, dehydration, poor oral hygiene and antibiotics, according to the case study authors.
Patients who have had a hairy tongue in the past are more likely to develop it again in the future.
The condition is relatively harmless and usually temporary.
Doctors advised the man to gently scrub the surface of his tongue with a toothbrush four times a day. He also received advice on quitting smoking.
The AAOM recommends practicing good oral hygiene to prevent hairy tongue.
This means brushing the top of the tongue with a toothbrush or using a tongue scraper.
After six months, the patient’s tongue had returned to normal, even though he continued to smoke.
The case has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.