Thursday, October 14, 2010

Black tongue - the strange side effects of Pepto-Bismol

Black tongue happens to be one of the strange side effects of Pepto-Bismol. Find out why this happens here.

Various kinds of medication for nausea - Pepto-Bismol included - contain the ingredient Bismuth subsalicylate, a drug with multiple compounds that helps in treating heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, and various other temporary stomach problems. As a tablet, Bismuth subsalicylate has to be consumed with water, but if exposed to the tongue's surface by chewing, the tongue can turn black after a few hours and this can last for a few days. Black stools and a black tongue are some of the strange side effects of Pepto-Bismol that aren't harmful. The color only comes about because the drug interacts with the gastrointestinal tract and saliva.

Fortunately, this discoloration doesn't come with any adverse affects to human health, so having a black tongue or black strip stains on your teeth after taking some Pepto-Bismol is definitely nothing to panic about. To get rid of the stains, just brush your teeth and tongue thoroughly or get a dentist to clean your teeth and tongue for you. To completely avoid the situation altogether, brush your teeth right after taking Pepto-Bismol or, better yet, set a long-term goal to get a good assessment on your body to manage your stomach at all times.

Follow a healthy diet filled with lean proteins, fruits and vegetables to control your body's PH and keep it at a mild alkaline or neutral level. Also, try to sleep for eight hours every night to ease your body and get it ready for stress. If you ever get an upset stomach, drink some chamomile or peppermint tea with honey to help ease it. This way, you will never have to worry about a black tongue or any of the strange side effects of Pepto-Bismol again.

No comments:

Post a Comment