… excessively long, which makes them more likely to harbor bacteria.
When these bacteria grow, they may look dark or black, and the overgrown papillae can appear hair-like.
Fortunately, this condition is not common and is typically not serious. It’s most likely to occur in people who don’t practice good dental hygiene.
Those with diabetes and taking antibiotics or receiving chemotherapy may also develop a black hairy tongue.
Sore/Bumpy Tongue
Painful bumps on your tongue can be due to:
Trauma: Accidentally biting your tongue or scalding it on something straight out of the oven can result in a sore tongue until the damage heals. Grinding or clenching your teeth can also irritate the sides of your tongue and cause it to become painful.
Smoking: Smoking irritates your tongue, which can cause soreness.
Canker sores: Mouth ulcers. Many people develop canker sores on the tongue at one time or another. The cause is unknown, but stress is believed to be a factor. Canker sores normally heal without treatment within a week or two.
Oral cancer: A lump or sore on your tongue that doesn’t go away within two weeks could be an indication of oral cancer. Many oral cancers don’t hurt in the early stages, so don’t assume a lack of pain means nothing is wrong.