What Causes A Black Strip In The Middle Of My Tongue And How Can It Be Treated?

Posted on Tue, 19 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 Answered on

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 Last reviewed on

Question : What causes a black strip in the middle of my tongue? What will remove it?

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Management of black tongue

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Black strip in the middle of the tongue could be due to multiple reasons.
Habits such as tobacco and betel use, medicines such as chlorhexidine or iron can cause black or brown superficial staining of the tongue.
Occasionally it may be caused by drugs that induce dry mouth or antibiotics.
It can be caused by poor hygiene or individuals on soft nonabrasive diet or fasting.
To improve black tongue avoid drugs that stain tongue, increase oral hygiene, brush tongue with hard tooth brush.
Topical tretinoin cream can be applied on blackish area but it is a prescription drug and should be taken under the supervision of the doctor.

Regards,
Dr Asmeet

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad