Hairy tongue: This man was diagnosed with this rare condition after his tongue turned green and hairy

TW: Disturbing visuals

Your tongue can tell a lot about you. Doctors diagnose medical conditions based on its colour.

Some experts claim thatits shape reveals your personality.

But it turns out, your taste-bud populated organ can also give away your unhealthy habits in a very peculiar way.

This is exactly what happened to a smoker from Ohio, US who got a serious fright after sticking out his tongue just to find out that not only did it turn green in colour but also became hairy.

Concerned, he reached out to the doctors who, luckily, were able to explain the medical reasons behind the gross situation inside his mouth.

Here is what they said.

Meanwhile, you might be failing to brush your tongue often enough to kill all the harmful bacteria. Find out the ideal tongue cleaning routine.

Smoking and antibiotics led to a green and hairy tongue

The 64-year-old man from Ohio got seriously concerned about his health after noticing that his tongue had started to change colour.

A few weeks into the process he turned himself into a primary care clinic.

The revolting snap of the organ inside his mouth reveals that it didn’t just turn a weird hue but also looked hairy.

The doctors were informed that less than a month before the mind-blowing symptom appeared the patient had completed a course of the antibiotic clindamycin for a gum infection.

After it was found out that he was also a smoker, the specialists at the hospital were able to put two plus two together and reassured the man that the situation was not as bad as his tongue looked.

They diagnosed him with hairy tongue, a condition characterised by an abnormal coating on the top surface of the organ, also called the dorsal area.

They explained that his tongue got its quirky appearance due to a rare side effect of tobacco and antibiotics combination.

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A hairy tongue is not as unusual as you think

Hairy tongue affects more than one in 10 Americans and is relatively harmless.

It is caused by a buildup of dead skin on the parts of the tongue that contain taste buds, known as papillae. Papillae then become longer than normal, making the tongue look hairy.

They also trap substances such as bacteria and yeast.

There are usually no symptoms of the condition but in some cases, those affected can experience a burning sensation on the tongue from those substances thriving on the organ’s surface.

Previous research shows that cigarettes can have a lasting impact on oral health and cause plaque and bacteria to build up on it.

Antibiotics can alter the mouth's microbiome, creating a favourable environment for bacteria to grow.

The combination of these two factors is what may have led to the unpleasantly looking outcome.

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Sources used:

- Daily Mail: 'Revolting image of Ohio man, 64, whose tongue turned green and hairy due to rare reaction to cigarettes and antibiotics'