H

hairy tongue The common term for the circum-
stance of overgrown filiform papillae on the
tongue, a condition known clinically as lingua vil-
losa. Filiform papillae are long, resemble hairs,
and do not contain taste buds. Their purpose is to
help move food during chewing and swallowing.
Normally the wear and tear of this function breaks
them off, a process called desquamation. Various
circumstances inhibit desquamation, allowing the
filiform papillae to grow up to 10 times longer
than normal. The overgrown filiform papillae then
trap food debris and other substances that impart
color (such as coffee and tea), giving the charac-
teristic “colored hair” appearance of hairy tongue.
The causes of hairy tongue are numerous and
include eating habits centered around soft foods,
which do not scrape the tongue, and inadequate
ORAL HYGIENE.
From a medical perspective hairy tongue is
harmless, though people in whom it develops tend
to find it aesthetically displeasing and in some it
tickles or irritates the soft palate during swallow-
ing. Brushing the tongue as a routine aspect of
oral hygiene, or using a tongue scraper, nearly
always restores the desquamation process and
reduces the length of the filiform papillae. Hairy
tongue is also slang for a bad hangover, probably
stemming from the correlation between chronic
ALCOHOLabuse and poor oral hygiene habits.
See also HALITOSIS.

halitosis The clinical term for bad breath.
Halitosis can indicate numerous local or systemic
health conditions. Local halitosis occurs when an
abundance of BACTERIAthat release sulfur as a waste
byproduct colonize in the mouth. Systemic halitosis
occurs as a response to metabolic and chemical
changes that the disease process causes in the body.

LOCAL CAUSES SYSTEMIC CAUSES

OF HALITOSIS OF HALITOSIS

poorORAL HYGIENE PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

food stuck betweenTEETH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

inadequate saliva DISORDER(GERD)

production certain cancers

TONSILLITIS, adenoiditis, SINUSITIS DIABETES

POSTNASAL DRIP LIVERdisease

kidney disease

Treatment for underlying conditions often

reduces or eliminates halitosis. When the source is

ineffective ORAL HYGIENE, improved brushing and

flossing techniques can help clean food debris

from the MOUTH, which reduces the presence of

sulfur-producing bacteria. Medications can cause

dry mouth and even leave unpleasant odors in the

mouth. Some people are predisposed to mouth

conditions that support the presence of bacteria.

Typically, a dentist treats halitosis related to oral

hygiene, PERIODONTAL DISEASE, DENTAL CARIES, and

other dental conditions. A doctor may recommend

approaches to minimize halitosis that exists sec-

ondary to other health conditions. Thyme, euca-

lyptus, peppermint, and caraway are among the

herbal remedies for halitosis.

See alsoGINGIVITIS; GLOSSITIS;HAIRY TONGUE.

hearing aid An external device that amplifies

sound to compensate for HEARING LOSS. A hearing

aid incorporates a receiver (microphone) to pick

up sound waves, an amplifier to magnify the

sound waves, and a battery that powers the

receiver and amplifier. Sound quality with a hear-

ing aid is different from sound quality the natural

EARperceives, and it takes time to become accus-

tomed to using hearing aids. Hearing aids cannot

restore normal hearing though they can increase

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