Metallic Taste in Mouth

Metallic Taste refers to an acidic or sour flavor experienced in the mouth. Read on to know all about Metallic Taste in Mouth – its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

What Is Metallic Taste in Mouth?

As aforesaid, it is a bitter sense of taste experienced by the tongue. This distorted taste sensation is also known as Dysgeusia. This is an unusual condition that is commonly experienced by many people.

What Causes Metallic Taste in Mouth?

This abnormal condition may be caused due to a number of factors. The medical causes of bitter metallic taste in mouth involve antidepressants, prenatal vitamins and antibiotics.

There are also a number of disorders that cause metallic taste in mouth. These include

• Jaundice
• Heartburn
• Postnasal drip
• Lead Poisoning
• Gastritis
• Mercury Poisoning
• Iodine Intoxication
• Selenium Overuse
• Pyrosis
• Lichen Planus
• Scombrotoxic Fish Poisoning
• Estrogen Imbalance
• Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease

Dental conditions such as tooth abscess, bleeding gums, poor oral hygiene and oral Infections such as Periodontitis and Gingivitis are also responsible for this disease.

Dehydration also causes metallic taste in mouth. Lack of fluids can also make you suffer from this condition. Foods are also one of the major causes for metallic taste in mouth. Eating rotten fish or seafood can also lead to aquatic food intoxication and result in the development of this disease. High blood pressure, diabetes, cancers and sexually transmitted infections are other some other prominent metallic taste in mouth causes.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Symptoms

There are no symptoms of metallic taste in mouth. This is because the condition itself is a symptom of some other disease. The condition is marked by a bitter, acrid taste in the mouth. This sensation is persistent and generally leads to a loss of appetite.

Metallic Taste In Mouth And Pregnancy

Dysgeusia is a very common phenomenon in pregnancy. This symptom usually arises in the first trimester of pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body goes through a lot of changes. It is widely held that Dysgeusia arises from an imbalance in the level of hormones such as estrogen. It is estrogen that controls and regulates the sense of taste in humans. Fluctuation of this hormone is held to be a cause of metallic taste in mouth in early pregnancy.

The sense of taste is closely connected with the sense of smell. Bodily changes during pregnancy may alter the sense of smell. This can have a direct impact on the sense of taste and lead to metallic taste in mouth in pregnancy.

Doctors also hold prenatal vitamins responsible for this condition. Prenatal vitamins have a metallic taste and women taking it for the first time are highly prone to suffer from metallic taste in mouth while pregnant. This can be cured by taking vitamins with food.

Taking antibiotics also leads to metallic taste in mouth during pregnancy. Stopping these medicines helps avert this discomforting sensation. However, there are cases when the medications cannot be stopped. Women who fall ill during pregnancy have to take antibiotics and suffer from Dysgeusia cannot stop medications to avoid getting sick again.

Many naturalists also hold that the metallic taste comes from the toxins produced in the lymph glands of the body to safeguard the fetus during pregnancy. The condition may also result from bad oral hygiene, acid reflux, heartburn and dental illnesses.

Good toothpaste, breath mints, chewing gums and mouthwash can help you get over this persistent metallic sensation in the mouth.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Cancer

Constant metallic flavor in mouth is often a result of systemic diseases like oral cancer. This condition also occurs from other common disorders affecting the mouth cavity.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Treatment

For metallic taste in mouth remedies are many in number. These include

Mouthwash

Rinse your oral cavity with a good mouthwash. This is quite effective in giving temporary relief from a bitter taste sensation.

Zinc Supplement Pill

Take a 50 mg pill of zinc supplement every day. Zinc boosts the natural immune system of the body and advances the development of new cells. This naturally helps you get rid of the acrid flavor in mouth.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Remedy at Home

The condition can be naturally cured at home in a number of ways. These are

Dental Floss

Floss your dental cavity every night. This is one of the most effective ways to get rid of Dysgeusia arising from dental problems.

Warm Water Wash

Rinse your mouth with water that has been heated to a warm temperature. Warm water helps kill germs and removes bitter oral sensation.

Salt-Soda Wash

Pour 2-3 drops of water on your toothbrush to make it wet. Add a teaspoon of baking soda and half teaspoon of salt over the brush. Bush your teeth with this mixture to get rid of the bitter mouth flavor.

Turmeric

Taking 300 milligrams of turmeric for three times on a daily basis can help reduce symptoms of Gastritis such as metallic taste.

Metallic Taste in Mouth and Dizziness

Consuming foods rich in copper can also be one of the reasons for metallic taste in mouth. Excess of copper in the body can make you suffer from toxicity due to this mineral. Even a minor excess of copper can make you suffer from dizziness along with a metallic flavor in mouth.

Metallic Taste in Mouth after Running

Many people suffer from metallic flavor in mouth after performing exercises such as running. This happens due to expansion of blood cells during exercise. Blood flows into areas such as the back of the mouth. The presence of iron in blood makes the tongue experience a bitter, metallic sensation.

Metallic Taste in Mouth From Medications

In many people suffering from metallic taste in mouth drugs are responsible. Such drugs are

Antibiotics

Antibiotic medicines like Tetracycline, Clarithromycin, Metronidazole and Rifampin that are used for curing diseases like tuberculosis and skin infections are commonly held responsible for this condition.

Thyroid Medications

Anti-thyroid drugs and Diuretics that are used for curing thyroid ailments are often used to treat metallic flavor.

Captopril

Captopril, a medicine that is used to cure Hypertension (high blood pressure), is commonly held as a cause for this condition.

Chemotherapy Drugs

Medicines used for cancer treatment such as Vincristine, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine and Procarbazine are also suspected to play a role in cancer patients experiencing metallic sensation in mouth.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Menopause

Menopause leads to a major imbalance of hormones in the body. Changes in progesterone hormone levels can lead to this disorder. Women undergoing menopause, especially Perimenopause, are commonly susceptible to this disorder.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Diabetes

As aforesaid, Diabetes is a major reason for metallic taste in mouth. Oral medicines taken by patients suffering from this disease gives rise to various side effects. Metallic flavor in mouth is one of the commonest symptoms of this disorder. Metallic flavor is usually accompanied with other symptoms like nausea, weight gain and skin rashes.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Thyroid Disease

Some women suffering from Thyroid disease often develop a condition known as Burning Mouth Syndrome. This condition leads to a burning sensation in the lips and tongue. It is often accompanied with a bitter taste in the mouth. This bitter or metallic taste can be treated by medicines. However, certain medicines used for curing thyroid conditions such as Methimazole and Carbimazole can also lead to metallic flavor instead of suppressing it.

Nausea and Metallic Taste in Mouth

Many people complain of nauseating symptoms along with a metallic flavor. This usually happens when you suffer from copper toxicity. Copper toxicity arises due to consumption of foods rich in the mineral. Some of the common copper-rich foods are

• Liver
• Oysters
• Sesame Seeds
• Cocoa Powder
• Nuts
• Dried herbs like basil, marjoram, parsley, savory, thyme and oregano.
• Lobster
• Sunflower seeds
• Squash seeds
• Roasted Pumpkin
• Sun dried tomatoes

Is Metallic Taste In Mouth Early Sign Of Pregnancy?

Metallic flavor in mouth is often seen as an early sign of pregnancy. As aforementioned, this sensation arises during the first three months (trimester) of pregnancy. Many women suspect their pregnancy from this symptom.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Gastritis

Gastritis commonly gives rise to metallic flavor in mouth. Gastritis along with heartburn commonly leads to a bitter sensation in the oral cavity. If H.pylori bacterium is responsible for the disease, fruits such as apples, cranberries, onions, garlic and celery can help treat symptoms like metallic flavor.

Metallic Taste in Mouth Ketosis

Ketosis is a condition that leads to an abnormal rise in the amount of ketone compounds in the bloodstream as happens in case of Diabetes Mellitus. Oral metallic flavor can arise from health conditions like Ketosis. Ketosis occurs due to high iron build-up that happens when a person eats high amount of meat.

Metallic taste in mouth is completely curable if the underlying condition is properly diagnosed and treated. If you are suffering from an acrid taste in mouth, make sure that you get in touch your doctor. Proper medical treatment will get you cured in no time.

References:

http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/metallic-taste

http://www.simple-remedies.com/health-tips-2/metallic-taste-in-mouth-during-pregnancy.html

http://metallictasteinmouthcauses.com/metallic-taste-in-mouth-and-pregnancy/

http://metallictasteinmouthcauses.com/

http://www.mamashealth.com/diabetes.asp

http://symptoms.wrongdiagnosis.com/cosymptoms/blurred-vision/metallic-taste.htm