Metallic taste in the mouth in adults
Sometimes a metallic taste in the mouth in adults is possible, which is unpleasant and can lead to discomfort. But what does it indicate, what pathologies or conditions can provoke this phenomenon?

Taste is one of the five basic human senses. It is necessary for the recognition of poor-quality products, enjoyment of food, general perception, along with smell. The sensation of taste includes various neurological processes, so disorders of this sense organ are also quite possible. When a person notices a metallic taste in their mouth, it may be due to a number of factors, including changes in their own health.

The tongue contains thousands of sensory organs called taste buds and taste buds. Taste is also affected by the smell, texture and temperature of food and liquids. If a person notices changes in their health, habitual diet, or medications they use, they may perceive the taste differently.

Dysgeusia is the name for a distorted taste in the mouth, including a metallic taste or other sensation. Sometimes this can be accompanied by a painful burning sensation, itching and swelling as part of the burning mouth syndrome. But why can a metallic taste occur and is it always a pathology?

Causes of a metallic taste in the mouth in adults

Poor oral hygiene (poor cleaning of teeth, tongue and gums) is a possible cause of a metallic taste in the mouth. Several other factors can also cause a metallic taste in the mouth. The problem may go away without intervention or when the person makes lifestyle changes, such as stopping certain medications. However, sometimes this symptom can indicate a serious underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Unsatisfactory condition of the oral cavity. People who do not regularly brush their teeth and do not use dental floss or irrigator may notice changes in taste, including a metallic taste. Here are some reasons for this phenomenon:

  • bacterial infections such as gingivitis or periodontitis;
  • fungal infection (oral candidiasis);
  • oral trauma, including tooth extraction;
  • ulcerative defects and other complications due to inappropriate, ill-fitting prostheses;
  • oral tumors.

Treating any infections and maintaining good oral hygiene can help prevent or eliminate a metallic taste in your mouth.

Problems with the paranasal sinuses and ear. Because smell and taste are so closely related, sinus problems can impair a person’s sense of taste or cause a metallic taste in the mouth. A stuffy nose is one of the symptoms of sinus problems. Once the sinus problem is gone (the inflammation is gone), the metallic taste will also go away. Sinus problems are very common and include:

  • colds;
  • inflammation of the sinuses with the development of sinusitis, frontal sinusitis or pansinusitis;
  • allergic lesions;
  • nasal polyps;
  • middle ear infection or other upper respiratory infections;
  • recent middle ear surgery.

Sjogren’s syndrome. Sjögren’s syndrome can cause dry mouth, sinuses, and eyes. In addition, people with this condition sometimes report a persistent metallic taste in their mouth, food, and water. Sjögren’s syndrome is a type of “dry syndrome”. People with other dry bowel symptoms also experience dry mouth along with a metallic taste.

Medicines. Certain medications, when taken, can cause an aftertaste, as they are absorbed by the body and enter the bloodstream. For example, people who use metformin often report that they have a metallic taste in their mouths. Metformin is a drug for diabetes. Studies show that the body excretes metformin in saliva. The taste will persist as long as the medicine remains in the human body.

Some other medications that can cause a metallic taste in your mouth include chemotherapy and radiation medications, as well as:

  • certain antibiotics and antimicrobial chemotherapy drugs, such as metronidazole;
  • acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer’s disease;
  • systemic anesthesia (in rare cases);
  • some medications to correct thyroid function;
  • adenosine (less than 1% of people);
  • angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors;
  • lithium, a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder;
  • ethionamide, an antibacterial agent for tuberculosis;
  • lorcainide hydrochloride for arrhythmias;
  • gallium nitrate to lower high levels of calcium in the blood.

In addition, some medications, such as anticholinergics, can cause dry mouth. People may perceive it as a metallic taste.

Cancer treatment. Taste changes are a common side effect of many cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This may be due to treatment or its complications, such as mouth ulcers. The Cancer Society offers the following tips for people who experience changes in taste due to cancer treatment:

  • avoid using metal tableware;
  • use lemon drops or sugar-free mint;
  • choose fresh or frozen foods over canned foods;
  • add flavorings such as lemon, spices and mint to food;
  • brush your teeth regularly;
  • use mouthwash before eating;
  • eat food cold or at room temperature;
  • choose chicken, tofu, or dairy instead of red meat.

Vitamin and mineral complexes. Substances containing metals such as iron, zinc and copper can also cause a metallic taste. Experts believe that this happens when the mineral causes saliva protein to oxidize. Prenatal vitamins and calcium supplements can have this effect. Scientists have found that closing the nasal passage can reduce the metallic taste of iron, but not other minerals. The taste should quickly disappear as the body absorbs the vitamins.

Pregnancy. Experts suggest that the early phase of pregnancy often causes taste changes, including a metallic taste in the mouth. Pregnancy can also cause cravings or dislikes for certain foods. Both of these symptoms will go away with time.

Dementia. A number of neurological conditions, including head and neck injuries, multiple sclerosis, and depression, can also affect a person’s sense of taste. Because taste buds send signals to the brain, changes in taste can occur if part of the brain is damaged and not functioning properly. Research shows that dysgeusia usually affects the elderly, especially those who are in the hospital. This can affect their appetite and nutritional status.

Guillain-Barre syndrome. A metallic taste in the mouth can sometimes be a sign of Guillain-Barré syndrome. It is an autoimmune disease that affects the peripheral nervous system. The problem may be related to “dysfunction of small nerve fibers.” In 2020, researchers described a person with this syndrome whose only early symptom was dysgeusia.

Allergy. A metallic taste can be an early sign of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. If a person develops itching, hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing after exposure to a possible allergen, they need immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening.

Renal failure. People with end-stage kidney disease often complain of a metallic taste in their mouths. Possible reasons for this include:

  • high levels of urea and other substances in the body;
  • low zinc levels;
  • metabolic changes;
  • medication use;
  • a smaller number of taste buds, a change in the outflow and composition of saliva.

Other reasons. Other possible causes of a metallic taste include:

  • SARS and coronavirus;
  • infections of the tonsils and adenoids;
  • indigestion.

The symptom is usually temporary and disappears when the underlying problem is corrected.

Symptoms of a metallic taste in the mouth in adults

A metallic taste in the mouth is not usually a cause for concern. However, a person should see a doctor if:

  • an unpleasant taste does not go away or intensifies;
  • have other symptoms;
  • there is no obvious reason for the taste change.

If the taste develops after you start taking a certain medication, your doctor may change the type or dosage of the medication.

Treatment of metallic taste in the mouth in adults

Before prescribing treatment, the doctor must determine the cause of the metallic taste. And there are a lot of them.

Diagnostics

To diagnose the cause of this symptom, the doctor may refer the patient with such complaints to an otolaryngologist. This is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose and throat. Diagnosis may include:

  • physical examination of the ears, nose and throat;
  • dental examination to determine the quality of oral hygiene;
  • a review of the person’s medical history and medications;
  • taste test for diagnosing any taste disorders;
  • other tests to help determine the underlying cause.

Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor may prescribe treatment for the metallic taste itself or the underlying cause of the problem.

Modern treatments

There is no way to get rid of or prevent metallic taste in the mouth. Your treatment depends on the specific cause. In some cases, this unpleasant symptom may disappear on its own, for example, if you stop taking vitamins or cure a cold. But other times you need to try additional methods:

  • see a dentist to get rid of infections around the teeth (periodontitis) or gums;
  • brush your teeth and tongue twice a day and floss once a day for good oral hygiene – this can prevent cavities and oral infections;
  • Drink water and chew sugar-free gum to prevent oral infections that can cause a metallic taste in your mouth.
  • before eating, rinse your mouth with a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup warm water;
  • try using plastic and glass or ceramic utensils rather than metal, try marinating meat in sweet fruit juices or sweet wines, or cooking with lots of herbs and spices.

Some medicines can cause a metallic taste in your mouth. Talk to your doctor and let him know that you are experiencing this side effect. Switching to another medicine may help. Do not stop taking prescribed medications without first talking to your doctor.

Prevention of metallic taste in the mouth in adults at home

There are many reasons why you might have a metallic taste in your mouth, from medications to improper brushing of your teeth. Once you figure out why this is happening, there are often simple steps you can take to get rid of the problem.

Making dietary or lifestyle changes can help eliminate the metallic taste. Here are some tips that can help the problem:

  • avoid smoking;
  • limit your alcohol intake;
  • drink plenty of water.
  • brush your teeth regularly and floss.
  • chew sugar-free gum or eat sugar-free mints.

Popular questions and answers

We asked for answers to popular questions and answers dentist Yulia Lapushkina и gastroenterologist Marat Zannatullin.

What diseases can indicate a metallic taste in the mouth?
– A metallic taste in the mouth can most often occur with diseases that are not directly related to the gastrointestinal tract. Patients suffering from iron deficiency anemia and taking iron supplements or water fortified with iron may experience this taste, says Gastroenterologist Marat Zinnatullin. – Also, the cause may be taking other drugs (antibiotics, antihistamines, metformin, bismuth drugs, etc.). Patients receiving radiation or chemotherapy also often experience a metallic taste. To the appearance of a metallic taste can lead to diseases of the gums and oral mucosa, less often the esophagus and stomach, a violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora. Diseases of the nervous system and brain can provoke a similar taste disorder. Another group of causes is poisoning with salts of heavy metals.

“The cause of a metallic taste in the mouth can also be crowns on the teeth,” adds dentist Julia Lapushkina. – Budget designs with different metal alloys, due to the potential difference, can cause the development of galvanic currents, which, as a result, hello to the disease – galvanization. Symptoms vary and depend on the duration of these currents, but the first sign is the appearance of a metallic taste and burning in the mouth. Treatment of this pathology is selected individually based on the cause and associated symptoms. But most often it comes down to the elimination of metal prostheses that caused galvanosis.

Is it possible to eliminate the taste of folk methods?
– No folk methods can eliminate such a symptom. It is necessary to determine its cause and treat the disease that provoked an unpleasant taste, – recommends Dr. Zinnatullin.
What symptoms, along with a metallic taste, should be alarming?
“If you have a persistent metallic taste in your mouth, you should first of all contact a therapist,” advises Gastroenterologist Marat Zinnatullin. – The doctor will determine the direction of the search and, if necessary, will refer to a narrow specialist.

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