Expert Q&A
My baby (who will be 3 months old next week) has a black coating on his tongue. He has not had anything but his formula. Is this something to worry about and what might cause such a coating?
Three things come to mind here. The black tongue can be due to bismuth (Pepto Bismol ingredient), but this is seen more in adults and babies usually don't have exposure to bismuth. Secondly, it could be the indication of a thrush infection and should be discussed with your pediatrician. Thirdly, and most commonly, is build up of debris that gets caught on the tongue. One old fashioned fix for this still rings true today. You can make a diluted mix of water and Adolph's Meat Tenderizer (or any store brand that has the enzyme compound papain in it). Rinsing with a small amount usually clears up the black coating. It's a fairly common condition and once a thrush infection is ruled out, it's really nothing to worry about."
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