Metallic Taste In Mouth
What Causes the Metallic Taste in Your Mouth?
Are you struggling with a persistent metallic taste in your mouth? Are you worried about its health implications? Are you unable to enjoy food and feeling a loss of appetite?
While a metallic taste in your mouth is not a serious health problem in most cases, it can be a symptom of a couple of different diseases such as gastritis, mercury poisoning or even cancer. But more often it is a bothersome intrusion that spoils your enjoyment of your food. Sometimes people lose weight as they start to consume significantly less than their usual portions.
There is a medical term for this metallic taste in your mouth and it is dysguesia. Dysguesia can be temporary or long-term. Metallic taste in your mouth appears temporarily when you are fighting of a cold or sore-throat and can even be the side-effect of some medication that you are taking such as an antibiotic. In these cases, when the cold disappears or when you stop taking the medication your taste buds will be back to normal.
The other obvious cause of metallic taste in your mouth is some oral problem. Inadequate or improper oral cleansing can lead to plaque build-up and can cause a metallic or acidic taste in your mouth. There is also a possibility of oral infections such as gum inflation or a bacterial infection of the gums or bones in your mouth that can lead to change in taste patterns. Oral cavities, and the metallic fillings used in oral cavities reacting with some food item can trigger a similar sensation in your mouth.
Disrupted digestive processes sometimes cause sour tasting bile and this can leave a metallic taste in your mouth also. This is occasionally accompanied by heartburn or stomach discomfort.
The causes mentioned are the more obvious associations that spring to mind when you have an unusual taste in your mouth and you are likely to explore these. You should also know that there are some causes that are not as apparent but still fairly common triggers of metallic taste in your mouth. Endocrine or metabolic problems, depression, brain tumor or trauma, radiation of the neck, migraine and vitamin deficiency are also among the problems that are known to manifest themselves with a metallic taste as one of the symptoms. Women sometimes find that hormonal fluctuations can be traced through this symptom also.
Smokers and alcoholics are also likely to experience metallic taste in the mouth. In these situations, there is a possibility of permanent nerve damage to the taste buds and there may be no easy way to get rid of the metallic sensation in the mouth.
An accurate assessment of the cause of the metallic taste in your mouth can help you in the treatment. Usually addressing the underlying problem will take care of this issue also and your taste buds should be back to normal. If none of the obvious causes is the one triggering the metallic taste, you should consult a medical professional and undergo a physical examination and accompanying tests to find the exact cause of your problem.
While the underlying problem is being addressed, you can try some things to reduce the impact of the metallic taste in your mouth. Brush and cleanse your mouth a couple of times a day, at least. Make sure that you clean your tongue when you are brushing your teeth. You may want to use a citrus flavored mouth-wash or tooth-paste to counter the metallic taste in your mouth. You can also try sprinkling some baking soda on your brush and rub your teeth and tongue with it. It is a good cleanser and may serve to neutralize the metallic taste you are experiencing.