Understanding the Unpleasant Taste Left by Tums
Tums is one of the most popular over-the-counter antacid medications used to relieve heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. It works by neutralizing excess stomach acid. But a common complaint from Tums users is the unpleasant sour, chalky, or metallic taste it can leave in your mouth.
In this article, we’ll examine why Tums leads to a bad taste, how long it lasts, and tips to help get rid of the taste faster.
The Active Ingredients in Tums
To understand why Tums leaves a funky taste in your mouth, it helps to first look at what’s in it. Each Tums tablet contains the following active ingredients:
- Calcium carbonate - The main antacid
- Simethicone - Reduces gas
- Flavoring - Varies by fruit flavor
The key ingredient responsible for neutralizing stomach acid is calcium carbonate. But it has a chalky flavor. The heavy doses of calcium carbonate in Tums are what lead to the unpleasant taste.
How Tums Works to Neutralize Acid
When you chew a Tums tablet, it crumbles into a fine powder that mixes with your saliva. The calcium carbonate in this powdery mix then goes to work neutralizing hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
This chemical reaction between the base (calcium carbonate) and the acid (hydrochloric acid) results in a salt and water. The salty taste is left over in your mouth.
As long as there is still excess calcium carbonate in your mouth, the sour, salty flavor will linger on your taste buds.
Other Factors Contributing to the Bad Taste
In addition to the calcium carbonate aftertaste, a few other factors can worsen the unpleasant mouthfeel of Tums:
- Fructose or sorbitol - Common sweeteners in chewable Tums that some find unpleasant
- Inactive ingredients - Potentially the dyes, binders, or magnesium stearate
- Medication flavors - The fruit flavors may taste artificial or sour
- Dry mouth - Tums can cause dry mouth, exacerbating the bad taste
So in summary, the chalky calcium carbonate, artificial sweeteners, and flavors paired with a dry mouth creates a bitter, sour, metallic taste that can linger after taking Tums.
How Long Does the Bad Taste Last?
Most people report the unpleasant taste goes away after about 10-30 minutes. This is about how long it takes for most of the calcium carbonate to fully dissolve in your mouth and stomach.
However, some unlucky Tums takers say the bad taste hangs around for hours. Factors like taking a larger dose or having extra sensitive taste buds can lengthen the duration.
The best way to find relief fast is to rinse the calcium carbonate particles away as quickly as possible.
Tips to Get Rid of the Tums Taste Faster
Here are some tips to help get the sour Tums taste out of your mouth quickly:
- Drink plenty of water - Rinse and dilute the Tums
- Swish water - Swish it around your mouth to dislodge particles
- Drink other beverages - Tea, coffee, juice can help mask the taste
- Chew gum - Counteract the taste with minty gum
- Suck on candy - Hard candy distracts your taste buds
- Brush teeth - Brushing can remove residues
- Use mouthwash - The minty tingle rids the taste
Any food, drink, gum, or mint that has a strong flavor profile can help override the sour calcium carbonate taste faster. Rinsing right after taking Tums is key.
Choosing the Best Tums for Reducing Aftertaste
While no Tums product completely eliminates the temporary bad taste, some varieties are better than others. Here are tips for choosing the best Tums to minimize a lingering unpleasant flavor:
Go for Smooth Dissolving
Smooth dissolving Tums tablets dissolve faster and spread the ingredients more evenly in your mouth. This can distribute the taste and make it less concentrated.
Avoid Excess Calcium Carbonate
Some Tums contain higher percentages of the active antacid ingredient calcium carbonate per tablet:
- Regular Strength - 500mg calcium carbonate
- Extra Strength - 750mg calcium carbonate
- Ultra Strength - 1,000mg calcium carbonate
The Extra Strength and Ultra Strength versions contain more chalky calcium carbonate, which can worsen taste. Regular strength has the least per tablet.
Skip Fruity Flavors
Although fruit flavored, some Tums users report the berry, fruit punch, and cherry flavors leave more of an unpleasant acidic or sour taste compared to minty options.
Choose Advanced Formulas
Consider advanced Tums formulas like Tums Smoothies, Tums Chewy Delights, or Tums Freshers that use improved taste technology to help mask the calcium carbonate flavor.
Consider Tablet Coatings
Products like Tums E-X or Tums Ultra 1000 have an extra coating designed to help minimize the chalky calcium carbonate taste.
While no Tums product completely eliminates the temporary taste, these tips can help you find a variety that works best for your palette.
Preventing the Bad Taste from Tums in the Future
To avoid that unpleasant sour, bitter, chalky Tums taste in the future, you have a few options:
Adjust How You Take Tums
First, you can tweak how you consume Tums:
- Chew thoroughly - Breaks down the antacid better
- Chew with food - Helps mask the bad taste
- Drink plenty of fluid - Rinse away particles faster
- Take at mealtime - Food helps dissipate the taste
Proper chewing technique and pairing Tums with food or drink can go a long way.
Talk to Your Doctor About Alternatives
If Tums' taste is really intolerable for you, speak with your doctor. They may recommend:
- Antacids with different active ingredients
- Reducing your Tums dose
- Prescription medications for acid reflux
- Treatments for conditions causing your indigestion
Treating an underlying condition or using a medication other than Tums could potentially resolve acid issues without the bad taste.
Modify Your Diet to Reduce Acid
Finally, make dietary changes to avoid acid issues altogether:
- Avoid trigger foods like coffee, citrus, etc.
- Eat smaller meals
- Stay upright after eating
- Wear loose clothing
Prevention through diet modifications and lifestyle changes is the best long-term solution. This can reduce reliance on antacids like Tums that leave an unpleasant taste.
When to See a Doctor
While Tums' taste is undesirable, it's generally not harmful. However, you should see a doctor if:
- You use Tums nearly daily
- Tums provide little relief
- You experience severe chest pain
- You have difficulty swallowing
- You vomit blood or coffee ground-like material
Frequent, severe, or worsening symptoms may indicate an underlying digestive disorder needing medical attention.
The Bottom Line
That temporary unpleasant taste is an inevitable side effect of Tums' ingredients neutralizing stomach acid. While harmless, the sour/salty flavor can linger for 30 minutes or more depending on your saliva composition and sensitivity.
Rinsing your mouth, drinking fluids, using mouthwash, and eating something flavorful can help rid the taste faster. And selecting smoother, less potent Tums formulas can also curb the undesirable aftertaste.
But for lasting relief without the bad taste, consider consulting your doctor about alternatives or dietary changes to prevent acid issues in the first place.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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