The Unusual Case of a Smoker's Green and Hairy Tongue
An Ohio man's tongue turned green and hairy due to a condition called hairy tongue, which occurs when the filiform papillae on the tongue become enlarged and discolored. The condition is often caused by poor oral hygiene and can be exacerbated by smoking. In this case, the patient had also recently taken antibiotics. The condition is harmless but can cause a burning sensation. Treatment involves scraping the tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper and practicing good oral hygiene. Hairy tongue is relatively common, affecting about 13% of adults at least once in their lifetime.
