In the article, we consider what a brown spot on the tongue means.
Language is a kind of indicator of the state of the human body. The appearance on it of spots of brown or another color often causes bewilderment in most people, but this phenomenon is by no means rare.
Dark spots on the tongue can appear in adults and children, their color can vary from dark brown to light gray.
Brown spots on the tongue in an adult can be located on the side or upper surface, can have a tuberous structure, affect other areas of the oral cavity, lips, and sometimes the face. They can appear for a variety of reasons.
Spots on the tongue can be permanent, can appear once, and then disappear on their own, or have a periodic character. Sometimes they are accompanied by discomfort or pain. In such a case, there is a chance of developing tongue cancer or a serious infectious lesion.
Causes of a brown spot on the tongue
If multiple or single, small or large dots appear on the surface of the tongue, you need to think about the causes of their occurrence. You should not worry prematurely, since in many cases such spots are not harmful in themselves, however, the provoking factors should nevertheless be clarified in order to eliminate possible complications.
Hyperpigmentation
Brown spots on the tongue in an adult can occur due to hyperpigmentation. This is due to the high concentration of melanin in the body. It is this substance that dyes hair, eyes, and skin. If a large amount of melanin accumulates in the tissues of the tongue, harmless dark spots begin to appear. Melanocytes - pigment cells - cause hyperpigmentation of the tongue.
However, sometimes brown spots on the tip of the tongue, resulting from hyperpigmentation, are evidence of the development of melanoma - one of the types of cancer. As a rule, melanoma develops under the influence of solar UV rays. The risk group includes people over the age of 40, in particular women. As a rule, melanomas are brown or black, however, they can also be purple, red, pink.
A photo of a brown spot on the tongue is presented.
Traditional medicine involves the removal of pigmentation using a laser. In folk medicine, to brighten a darkened tongue and skin, rosehip juices, aloe vera, cucumber, lemon, and potato are used.
Melanin production is reduced by hydroquinone. It contains calcium, kojic and azelaic acids, cucumbers, soy milk.
The appearance of brown spots on the tongue during pregnancy
In some cases, spots occur in women taking contraceptives that provoke hormonal changes and affect the activity of the endocrine system. It also happens during pregnancy.
What other possible causes of brown spots on the tongue in adults?
Oral fibroma
Fibroma is a tumor of a benign nature, having the form of a polyp or dome, that is, it is a formation resembling a solid, smooth lump of a round shape, which, with its base or foot, is attached to the tissues of the oral cavity. They look like moles and freckles, can have a dark color. Fibroma can occur for various reasons, for example, due to irritation caused by exposure to dental devices, piercings, and teeth.
Therapy of such a tumor can only be surgical, however, surgical intervention does not guarantee that the neoplasm does not reappear in the same place. Treatment should not be neglected, since fibroids can multiply and grow. In addition, damage to the tongue should be avoided, in particular in the area where fibroma was previously located. Injury can provoke its growth again.
Oral Cancer
Tongue melanoma is a rare type of cancer in the oral cavity. Brown spots on the tongue, provoked by cancer of the oral cavity, are extremely rare. It is possible to suggest the occurrence of cancer if its appearance is accompanied by other symptoms - a difficult movement of the jaw during conversation, swallowing, bleeding wounds on the face, neck, mouth, hoarseness, chronic soreness in the throat.
In this case, panic should not be given, cancerous tumors can be treated with chemical drugs, radiation that destroys carcinogenic cells, as well as by surgical intervention aimed at removing the neoplasm.
Tongue Piercing
In some cases, pigmentation disappears in the area of the piercing on the tongue, only dark spots remain. They can arise not only because of bleeding that occurs during a puncture, but because of the presence of jewelry in the oral cavity.
If infection occurred during piercing, then it should be treated in a timely manner. In addition, it is important to perform all the necessary postoperative manipulations, use only gold or titanium jewelry, as they are the least allergenic.
Black hairy tongue
What does it mean if a brown hairy spot appears on the tongue? This phenomenon can be provoked by smoking, drinking alcohol, inadequate oral hygiene, and excessive use of antibiotic medications. Similar spots appear due to the proliferation of papillae on the tongue.
Science has not fully understood the exact causes of brown spots on the tongue, however, as practice shows, the problem disappears over time if the patient carefully monitors oral hygiene, refuses to smoke and drink alcohol-containing drinks.
They can be lightened or given a pink color by using peppermint candies or by using mouthwashes.
In addition, the phenomenon of black hairy tongue may be due to the development of candidiasis in the mouth. It is important to make sure that the diagnosis is correct, and then start the treatment of such spots by using antifungal drugs.
Tongue injuries
As a result of trauma to the tongue, dark red or dark brown blisters may appear on it. They have this color due to the fact that there is blood inside.
Dark spots can occur due to trauma to the tongue, especially if wounds occur as a result. For example, due to piercing, dental intervention, biting the tongue.
What else can cause a brown stain on the tongue?
Allergic manifestations and the result of exposure to certain medications
Certain chemicals, such as bismuth, can provoke the appearance of spots in the oral cavity. In addition, some medications that are allergens can cause spotting of the tongue.
To solve this problem, it is important to prevent contact with the allergen, take antihistamines, continue therapy if the spots do not disappear.
Chemotherapy
In some cancer patients, brown spots on the tongue appear during the passage of a chemotherapeutic course. Similar spots can also occur under the nails. Moreover, the phenomenon can be observed both during the course of chemotherapy and after its completion.
Anemia
One of the causes of dark spots in the tongue is anemia. Dark zones can be scattered, or grouped on the tongue. However, the most classic symptom of this pathology is the pallor of the tongue.
Sexually transmitted diseases
It is known that white, and sometimes dark spots and wounds, can occur on the tongue, on the lips, in the mouth and other parts of the body with some sexually transmitted diseases, for example, with genital warts or HIV. Before suggesting infection with such diseases, another symptomatology should be identified that will confirm the diagnosis. If it is absent, then the reason for the appearance of spots lies, most likely, in another.
Other diseases
Brown spots on the tongue can be hereditary in nature, can occur due to dysbiosis, the development of Peitz-Egerz syndrome, Loje-Khuntsiker, adrenal cortex insufficiency, insufficient personal hygiene of the oral cavity, expansion of blood vessels, especially located under the tongue.
In childhood
A brown spot on the tongue in a child can occur as a result of an allergic reaction, candidiasis of the oral cavity (usually with candidiasis there are white spots, but sometimes they can also be dark), the use of antibiotic medications during therapy, and deposits that accumulated as a result of breastfeeding.
Therapy
If a person has dark brown spots on the tongue, it is important to consult a doctor and be examined for oncological pathology, since timely therapy in this case will solve the problem. Spots of a temporary nature, in particular, resulting from chemical exposure, can be eliminated through properly organized oral hygiene.
Hygiene of the oral cavity involves careful cleaning of the layers on the tongue with a soft brush. In addition, it is important to eat healthy, rough foods, fruits, and vegetables.
Many pathologies accompanied by the indicated symptom respond well to therapy with medications and vitamin complexes.
Surface treatment of the tongue can be carried out using effective resorption drugs - "Imudon", "Lizobakt." You can also make oral baths based on decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, sage) or antiseptic solutions of pharmacy origin (Miramistin, Chlorhexidine).
If spots on the tongue are provoked by a fungal infection, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and probiotics are prescribed to the patient to normalize the microflora. In addition, the use of antifungal drugs is indicated - Livarola, Fluconazole, Nystatin, Diflucan. For local treatment of the oral cavity, antiseptic solutions are used.
In some cases, experts recommend treating the mouth with liquid nitrogen. Such a procedure should be carried out exclusively in a medical institution and only under the supervision of a doctor. Self-treatment with nitrogen is unacceptable. It is worth noting that in the field of dentistry a similar method of therapeutic effect has not been widely used.
In cases where conservative therapy in the form of drug exposure does not bring the desired result, experts recommend surgical intervention.
You can also remove such spots if you suck a small piece of pineapple, and then hold it for 40 seconds on the root of the tongue and chew for 8 minutes. This should be done twice a day for 14 days.
Prevention
The first and most important preventive rule is compliance with individual oral hygiene standards. To clean the tongue, you should use special tools, for example, scrapers. It is also important to eat right, to saturate your own diet with foods rich in iron. You should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
It is necessary to visit the dentist in a timely manner if suspicious symptoms appear, eliminate dental diseases, and remove tartar.
It is important to remember that such a phenomenon as brown spots on the tongue is not only unaesthetic, but it can indicate the development of probable serious diseases in the body that only a qualified specialist can detect.
We examined why on the tongue a brown spot may occur.