Man gets black hairy tongue after strict liquid diet

Condition more common than people think

(WHO KNEW NEWS) – A man’s tongue has turned black and appeared to grow hair-like structures after he was put on an all-liquid diet following a stroke. This condition is called ‘lingua villosa nigra’ and it is more common than people might think.

There are a number of factors that could have caused this condition, although poor oral hygiene is the main factor. Other factors include smoking, strong mouthwashes, and some antibiotics. His all-liquid diet could have contributed to his condition since solid food products scrape the dead cells from the tongue.

The American Academy of Oral Medicine does not consider this condition uncommon. In fact, up to 13 percent of adults suffered from this condition at some point in their life.

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