Pathology · single question
First-line treatment for hairy tongue is:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Essential oils / improved oral hygiene
- A. Correct. Hairy tongue (black hairy tongue) is treated by eliminating contributing factors (antibiotics, tobacco, poor hygiene) and improving oral hygiene — gentle tongue brushing and use of essential oil-based mouthwashes. No medication is typically needed.
- B. Antivirals are not indicated; hairy tongue is not a viral infection.
- C. Antifungals would only be needed if concurrent oral candidiasis is present.
- D. Antibiotics may actually cause or worsen hairy tongue by disrupting oral flora.