OLIVEIRA, Elaine Helena de et al. Diagnosis of black hairy tongue during mouth cancer prevention campaign. IJD, Int. j. dent. []. 2010, 9, 1, pp. 44-47. ISSN 1806-146X.

The hairy tongue is a benign uncommon condition, non-symptomatic, that attacks, habitually, adults and inveterate smokers. The condition is characterized by the increase of lingual surface filamentous papillae in consequence of keratin production increase or of its fallen decrease, showing a "hair" clinical aspect of the tongue. This appearance is, frequently, enough to the diagnosis, without the need of complementary tests. The treatment consists of periodic hyperkeratotic papillae removal with soft toothbrush or tongue scraper and removal of associated factors on disorder evolution. This work presents a clinical diagnosis case of black hairy tongue, during a search campaign for oral cancer, in Jaibaras district of Sobral - CE, Brazil, in an alcoholic and inveterate smoker male 72 year-old edentulous patient.

: Hairy Tongue; Stomatology; Diagnosis.