Smoker’s tongue sprouts green hair after years of smoking cigarettes

He tastes like salt and hair.

A 64-year-old man in the United States sought medical help after noticing a startling change to his oral health: his tongue had turned bright green and appeared to be growing a layer of fur. This rare medical event was documented in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighting how common habits can sometimes lead to bizarre physical reactions.

What caused the man’s tongue to turn green?

The patient had recently finished a course of clindamycin, an antibiotic used to treat a gum infection. Shortly after completing the medication, he noticed the green discoloration. While the man was also a long-term smoker, the combination of the medication and cigarette use likely triggered the condition. Antibiotics can change the balance of bacteria in the mouth, allowing specific types of microbes or yeast to grow in ways they usually do not. (PerthNow.com.au)

Is it actually hair growing on the tongue?

Despite the name “hairy tongue,” there is no actual hair involved. The surface of the tongue is covered in tiny bumps called filiform papillae. These bumps usually stay about one millimeter long and shed through regular eating and cleaning. However, when they fail to shed, they can grow up to 18 millimeters in length.

“On physical examination, the tongue had elongated filiform papillae and green discoloration,” the medical team wrote in the case report. These long bumps then trap food, bacteria, and yeast, which creates the fuzzy look. (IFLScience.com)

Why did the tongue change to a green color?

While many cases of this condition appear black—known as lingua villosa nigra—it can also look brown, yellow, white, or green. The specific shade depends on what gets trapped in the elongated bumps. In this case, the combination of bacteria and tobacco products resulted in a mossy green hue. According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, “hairy tongue may appear brown, white, green, or pink, depending upon the specific cause and other factors, such as mouthwashes or even candy.” (HealthAndMe.com)

How do doctors treat this condition?

The good news is that hairy tongue is usually harmless and temporary. Doctors initially suspected a fungal infection and tried antifungal medicine, but it did not work. Eventually, they told the man to scrub his tongue with a toothbrush four times a day and advised him to stop smoking.

“The patient was advised to gently scrub at his tongue with a toothbrush, and quit smoking,” the report noted. After six months of consistent cleaning, his tongue returned to its normal pink state, even though the man did not give up his smoking habit. (IFLScience.com)

Who is at risk for developing a hairy tongue?

This condition affects about 13% of people at some point in their lives. It is most common in men over the age of 40. Risk factors include:

• Smoking or using tobacco

• Poor oral hygiene

• Drinking large amounts of coffee or tea

• Using certain medications like antibiotics

• Dehydration or dry mouth

Maintaining a routine of brushing the tongue or using a scraper is the best way to keep the papillae from growing too long and trapping debris. (The American Academy of Oral Medicine)

For a bunch more reasons to get off the deadly cigarettes and switch to nicotine vaping, check out our article: FDA destroys U.S. Vape Industry… except Big Tobacco. A vape education.