# This morning when I looked in my mouth, my tongue was black! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659 "2004-09-29T12:54:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/1 "2004-09-29T12:54:21Z")
The title says it. I got out of the shower, opened my mouth to brush my teeth, and… :eek: the top of my tongue (the lickin’ side) is black! It seems to come off when I brush it and spit, but not very well. Do I have the plague? Last night I took a chewable Pepto-Bismol because my tummy felt naughty. Could that have done it? Granted, the tablets are pink, not black, but I dunno what bismuth subsalicylate does when it’s been on your tongue for a while. Well, I’m gonna go to class now (I have a test to take!) We’ll see if I keel over or not. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/2 "2004-09-29T13:10:41Z")
The bismuth component of the pepto is what turned your tongue black. Not to worry. Next time swallow a glass of water to get rid of the residue. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/3 "2004-09-29T16:27:16Z")
> [@quiltguy154](#): > > The bismuth component of the pepto is what turned your tongue black. Not to worry. Next time swallow a glass of water to get rid of the residue. Whew! Good to know. Since I’m still alive, I shall assume that that was indeed to problem. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/4 "2004-09-29T16:29:44Z")
lheh heh - this guy’s going to be a bit surprised to discover that his bowel movements are going to be considerably darker, too. Let’s let him know it was the Pepto that did that, too. ---
**Author:** ![jester21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jester21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jester21)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/5 "2004-09-29T16:29:54Z")
I hafto amagine that this Q is asked monthly on here. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/6 "2004-09-29T16:38:29Z")
> [@jester21](#): > > I hafto amagine that this Q is asked monthly on here. This is the first time I’ve ever seen this question. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-when-i-looked-in-my-mouth-my-tongue-was-black/266659/7 "2004-09-29T17:15:16Z")
It may not have been asked before, but I _should_ have thought about **reading the back of the box** :smack: before posting. “When using this product a temporary, but harmless, darkening of the stool and/or tongue may occur.” But now for a _much_ more interesting question than my possible demise by black-tongue disease… What chemical process causes the blackness? Does anyone know? I shall google away and see what I can fine.