Rare Side Effect: Ohio Man’s Tongue Turns Green and Hairy from Smoking and Antibiotics

An Ohio man’s tongue turned green and hairy due to a rare side effect of smoking tobacco and taking a course of antibiotics. The 64-year-old man noticed the change in color and texture of his tongue and sought medical help. It was revealed that he had recently completed a course of antibiotics for a gum infection and was also a smoker.

Hairy tongue, a condition characterized by an abnormal coating on the top surface of the tongue, was diagnosed by doctors. This condition occurs when dead skin cells build up on the tongue’s papillae, making them longer than normal and giving the tongue a hairy appearance. The papillae also trap bacteria and yeast, leading to a potential burning sensation on the tongue’s surface.

Hairy tongue affects about 13 percent of Americans and is more commonly found in older individuals, particularly men. While the discoloration is typically black, it can also appear brown, yellow, or green. Risk factors for hairy tongue include smoking, dehydration, poor oral hygiene, and antibiotic use.

The man was advised by doctors to gently scrub the surface of his tongue with a toothbrush four times a day and was counseled on how to quit smoking. Despite continuing to smoke, his tongue returned to normal within six months.

It is important to note that hairy tongue is relatively harmless and usually temporary. Practicing good oral hygiene, such as brushing the top of the tongue with a toothbrush or using a tongue scraper, can help prevent the condition.

The case study highlighting this rare reaction to cigarettes and antibiotics was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. While it remains unclear whether smoking, antibiotic use, or a combination of both caused the condition in this particular case, previous research has shown the negative impact of smoking on oral health, including the buildup of bacteria and plaque. Antibiotics can also alter the mouth’s microbiome, allowing bacteria to accumulate on the tongue.

How did the patient’s tongue return to its normal state despite continuing to smoke

An Ohio man’s tongue underwent an unusual transformation, turning green and hairy, due to a rare side effect of combining tobacco smoking and a course of antibiotics. The 64-year-old individual sought medical help after noticing the alarming change in color and texture of his tongue. Doctors diagnosed him with hairy tongue, a condition where the top surface of the tongue is covered with an abnormal coating.

Hairy tongue occurs when dead skin cells accumulate on the papillae of the tongue, causing them to elongate and giving the tongue a hairy appearance. This condition can also lead to the trapping of bacteria and yeast, potentially resulting in a burning sensation on the tongue’s surface.

Hairy tongue affects approximately 13 percent of Americans and is more commonly found among older individuals, particularly men. While the discoloration is typically black, it can manifest as brown, yellow, or green as observed in this case. Risk factors for hairy tongue include smoking, dehydration, poor oral hygiene, and the use of antibiotics.

In this particular case, the man was advised by doctors to gently scrub the surface of his tongue with a toothbrush four times a day and was provided counseling on smoking cessation. Remarkably, despite continuing to smoke, his tongue returned to its normal state within six months.

It is important to note that hairy tongue is generally harmless and temporary. Practicing good oral hygiene, such as brushing the top of the tongue with a toothbrush or using a tongue scraper, can help prevent this condition from occurring.

A case study documenting this rare reaction caused by a combination of cigarette smoking and antibiotics was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Although it remains unclear whether smoking, antibiotic use, or a combination of both triggered the condition in this particular case, previous research has demonstrated the detrimental effects of smoking on oral health, including the accumulation of bacteria and plaque. Additionally, antibiotics can disrupt the mouth’s microbiome, creating an environment where bacteria can accumulate on the tongue.