A female patient has a hairy lesion in the center of the tongue (hairy tongue). She is concerned about appearance. What is the treatment?

Correct answer: A. Nystatin

• A. Correct. Hairy tongue (lingua villosa) is treated by eliminating contributing factors (antibiotics, smoking, coffee) and using essential oils (thymol-containing) to reduce bacterial overgrowth, combined with oral hygiene instruction.
• B. Incorrect. Nystatin treats candidiasis; hairy tongue primary treatment is hygiene and essential oils.
• C. Incorrect. Surgical excision is not indicated for this benign, reversible condition.
• D. Incorrect. Hairy tongue has no viral etiology.