# What makes some saliva sour?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-some-saliva-sour/20639>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 26, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-some-saliva-sour/20639 "2000-05-26T21:08:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Greyson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@Greyson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greyson3)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-some-saliva-sour/20639/1 "2000-05-26T21:08:27Z")

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I have on occasion experienced a rather unpleasant burst of weird-tasting spit. It seems to happen when a distasteful substance is in my mouth. What chemical causes that weird taste, and what does it accomplish?

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-some-saliva-sour/20639/2 "2000-05-26T22:51:32Z")

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Do you think you may have brought up some gastric juices into your mouth somehow? It happens sometimes when I belch.

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**Author:** ![Greyson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@Greyson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greyson3)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2000, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-some-saliva-sour/20639/3 "2000-05-26T23:14:22Z")

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Naw, when that happens I know it. Hurts like hell. The stuff I am referring to comes straight from under the tongue, usually in a sizeable quantity. Have you ever eaten something acidic or spicy right after you’ve woken up in the morning? Sometimes that brings it on.