Dysgeusia is a disorder of our sense of taste. It designates, among other things, a change in our preferences, or the appearance of phantom flavors. This symptom is a sign of a dysfunction in our taste sensors, saliva, or throat. 

What is dysgeusia?

Our sense of taste can be altered in different ways, each marked by a specific symptom.

• Hypogeusia is the decrease in the sense of taste
• Ageusia is the total loss of sense of taste
• La dysgeusia is a disturbance of the sense of taste

Each of these symptoms should be differentiated from the others, because their causes and consequences are not the same. We will only talk here about dysgeusia, the disturbance of the sense of taste.

How to recognize the symptom

A person with the symptom of dysgeusia has their sense of taste altered. He can thus change his preferences (“Before I liked tomatoes, now I hate it”), or feel “ghost” tastes in his mouth, flavors of foods that have not been eaten recently, or even not. do not exist.

Risk factors

Tobacco, alcohol, diabetes, chemo and radiotherapy, certain drugs and infections, are all risk factors for the onset of dysgeusia.

When digestion goes haywire

Any disorder of the digestive system will have consequences on our sense of taste. If only for the appetite: who is still hungry when he is sick or has a stomach ache?

The smell and the flavors

Our nose plays a lot in our sense of taste. We can even say that smell and taste are two sides of the same coin, that of flavors. So when our sense of smell is inhibited (during a cold or other disease affecting the nose), food tastes are also modified.

Aging

The most natural cause of all. With age, our entire body ages, and therefore the internal tissues responsible for our senses. The taste is not lacking, and we all lose taste capacity sooner or later. Of course, this loss will be different for each individual, but it is inevitable.

Medication

The word “dysgeusia” often appears on the (long) list of unwanted side effects of drugs. And for good reason, a large number of them act on the digestive system, which in turn disturbs our sense of taste and causes dysgeusias.

Some of them disturb our receptors, our saliva, or even the brain and its ability to analyze flavors. Saliva plays a special role in our ability to savor food: by moistening the palate and its receptors, it stimulates our sensors. The reduction in saliva therefore directly leads to dysgeusia.

List of flavor-disturbing drugs: atropine, spasmolytics, anti-asthmatics, antidiarrheals, antiparkinson drugs, antidepressants, neuroleptics, antihistamines, anti-arrhythmics, diuretics, antivirals, hypnotics, anti-tuberculosis drugs, anti-ulcer drugs, anti-ischemic drugs.

cancers

Cancers linked to the digestive tract, through their irradiation-based treatment, cause lesions in the salivary and taste glands.

Other causes are possible for dysgeusia: gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), depression or seizures.

Complications of dysgeusia are primarily related to loss of appetite. The taste disorder can lead to dietary deficiencies if certain foods become difficult for the patient to eat, and thus cause new health problems.

It also affects the mental state of patients, with loss of appetite associated with dysgeusia being a cause of depression or discomfort.

In extreme cases, dysgeusia leads to significant weight loss.

Establish a correct diagnosis

Dysgeusia can be reliably diagnosed using devices, such as chemical gustometry and electrogustometry. These exams use sweet, sour, salty and bitter substances to understand which taste sensors are failing, and to better treat the problem.

Treat dysgeusia on a case-by-case basis

To really regain the taste of all foods, it is better to discuss it with your doctor after initial examinations (see above).

On a daily basis, patients are recommended to vary their diet, rediscover pleasure by testing new dishes, new cooking methods or different spices.

We can also influence the way we eat. Take more time, or grind food. There is no such thing as a perfect recipe, it is important for everyone to test what works and what does not.

In terms of care, smokers have everything to gain by stopping smoking (which disrupts sensory sensors). Brushing your teeth in the morning and evening also helps maintain a healthy oral cavity.

If nothing works and the dysgeusia causes loss of appetite, followed by significant weight loss, consultation with a dietician or nutritionist is recommended.