The taste is not that bad. You get this sweet tang, and the gargling solution coats your mouth, obviously more ofyour tongue. The aftertaste lingers slightly more than you would imagine. The coating quality is what seems to work for me. It acts like some type of barrier, perhaps, ensuring that the very acidic or sour foods don't irritate the throat. My physician once told me that some folks, like myself, had this weird kind of allergic reaction where a certain type of mucous, post-nasal drip, starts to fill the sinuses every time such food items are consumed. This is why he recommended gargling with some warm water or drinking a small cup of hot coffee to ensure this unwarranted activity is stopped.
Some more observations that might be useful for the unlucky few who share my allergic disposition:
- Try to gargle every time you eat something freezing cold, tarty, vinegary, or acidic
- Betadine gargling can spot the teeth a bit – rinse your mouth after the gargle
- Gargling before bedtime is a good practice – you can make this a morning-time affair too
- Don't gargle too harshly – betadine does the work for you, even if you put in the least effort
- You can mix some water, warm water into the mix during winter
- Try not to eat or drink for at least 10 minutes after gargling, which maximizes the effect