Common harmless causes
Staining is the simplest. The tongue's rough surface holds on to colour from tea, coffee, dark drinks, paan, supari and tobacco. Some medicines and mouthwashes can darken it too, and the effect often appears as brown or black patches at the back. Gentle cleaning and cutting down the cause usually fades it.
Black hairy tongue sounds alarming but is not dangerous. The tiny bumps on the tongue grow longer than usual and trap debris, bacteria and colour, so the surface looks dark and furry. Smoking, poor tongue cleaning, a dry mouth, heavy tea or coffee and some medicines are common triggers. Brushing the tongue gently or using a scraper, as our guide on the tongue scraper describes, and stopping tobacco clears it in most people.
Natural pigmentation is also common. Many people, especially with darker skin, have flat brown or black freckle-like marks on the tongue that have been there for years and never change.
A bruise, blood blister or dark patch from injury
A bite, a hot-food burn or sharp food can bring blood under the surface, giving a dark red, purple or black spot that is often tender. These usually fade over days to a couple of weeks. A blood blister may burst by itself, and it should settle without treatment. Keep the area clean with salt water rinses and avoid picking at it.
If you keep getting the same spot, something is injuring it, such as a sharp tooth, which a dentist can smooth. The guide on biting your tongue covers the first-aid side.
When a dark spot needs examining
See a dentist or doctor about a dark spot that is new and has no clear cause, is growing, has an uneven edge or colour, bleeds, feels raised or hard, or has not faded within three weeks. Dark spots that appear suddenly alongside tiredness, weight loss or dark patches elsewhere on the body should be seen by a doctor.
Very rarely, a dark patch is a sign of something that needs a biopsy. The dentist cannot tell for certain by looking, so they examine it, sometimes photograph it to watch for change, and arrange tests if needed. Our mouth ulcers page sets out the three-week rule for any mouth change that does not heal.
Colour alone rarely identifies a condition. The guide to tongue colour and what it can mean puts black spots alongside the other colours, and the tongue sores guide covers painful spots.
Common questions
Are black spots on the tongue dangerous?
Usually not. Most are staining, natural pigmentation or black hairy tongue. The ones to have examined are a new dark spot that grows, bleeds, feels hard or does not fade within three weeks.
How do I get rid of black hairy tongue?
Gently brush or scrape the tongue once or twice a day, drink water, and stop smoking and tobacco. Cutting down tea, coffee and paan helps too. It usually clears within a few weeks. If it keeps returning, ask a dentist or doctor to check medicines and other causes.
Can paan or tobacco cause black spots on the tongue?
They stain the tongue and mouth, and they also raise the risk of serious mouth conditions. Staining fades, but tobacco and areca nut need attention beyond colour. Any patch or sore that does not heal in three weeks should be examined.
Will a blood blister on the tongue go away by itself?
Usually yes, within a week or two. Avoid picking it, rinse gently with warm salt water, and avoid very hot food. If it keeps recurring, or is large and painful, have the cause checked.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Prices are prevailing Lucknow market ranges. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.