Metallic taste in the mouth – symptoms, causes, treatment. Where does it come from and is it dangerous?

Proven content

One of the five senses of the human body is taste. Not only does this sense make us enjoy eating, it can also alert us to eating something that is harmful, stale, or poisonous. The way we taste in the mouth can also help diagnose a more serious condition. All this thanks to the sense of taste receptors, i.e. taste buds, which are distributed over the entire surface of the tongue. The most common undesirable taste we feel is a metallic taste in the mouth. Where does it come from and when do you need to see a doctor?

A metallic taste in the mouth – what does it mean?

The medical term for a metallic taste in the mouth is parageusia or dysgeusia. In most cases, it is not a chronic condition and does not have to be a sign of a serious medical condition. Usually it is the result of improper oral hygiene and is a sign of: cursory or too infrequent tooth brushing, gingivitis or periodontitis, caries, insufficient palate and tongue hygiene. It can also be the result of oral mycosis – then a white coating appears on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks.

Liver disease and metallic odor from the mouth

Metallic odor from the mouth can be one of the symptoms of hepatitis. It is one of the liver diseases that combines inflammation of the organ and symptoms such as jaundice, fever, and dark brown urine. The accompanying symptoms are: apathy, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. There are chronic and acute hepatitis. Chronic inflammation is caused by previous toxic liver damage or an acute inflammatory process.

This change also occurs in people with hepatic insufficiency. In this state, the liver cannot function properly – it is partially or fully unable, for example, to filter and store. Symptoms of the disease are anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain on the right side, flatulence and nausea. In this case, we also distinguish between chronic and acute inflammation.

Taking medications and antibiotics and a metallic taste in the mouth

The presence of an unpleasant aftertaste is sometimes the body’s reaction to, for example, tetracycline, clindamacin, amoxicillin and gallium nitrate, lorcainide hydrochloride. Medicines that can also cause a metallic taste in the mouth include:

1. beta-blockers – these are drugs for people suffering from arterial hypertension and for patients with ischemic heart disease. The preparations block the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and are helpful during stressful situations and physical exertion. Beta-blockers reduce the heart rate and contractility, so you work less hard as a result.
2. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors – their task is to inhibit the action of angiotensin convetase, a substance produced by the human body that affects the structure and action of other substances. These drugs are used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, damage to the left ventricle, diabetes, kidney disease, in people with a history of a heart attack, atrial fibrillation and carotid atherosclerosis.
3. Antihistamines – these are drugs that reduce the effect of histamine, protecting the body against the development of inflammation. They can be divided into older and newer generation drugs. The side effects of taking the former are somnolence and reflex disorders. New generation drugs are newer and usually do not cause side effects.

Oral infections and a metallic taste in the mouth

Oral infections are a common cause of a metallic taste in the mouth. When infections develop in the tissues of the mouth, the taste is disturbed. Oral infections that cause this effect include:

1. oral mycosis – it is caused by Candida Albicans yeasts. The cause of the disease may be a diet low in zinc, iron, vitamins B, C and excessive consumption of carbohydrates. It is also caused by inflammation of the mucosa and improper oral hygiene. Symptoms include a metallic taste in the mouth, angina, white coatings on the tongue or palate, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing.
2. sinusitis – the easiest way to catch the infection is in the fall and winter. Its symptoms are a recurring runny nose and pain when moving the head. The patient may feel crowded around the forehead, pain under the eyes and around the cheekbones. If left untreated, sinusitis can cause serious health complications. They often need to be treated by opening the sinuses.
3. tonsillitis – this disease is still not fully described. Symptoms of the disease are a sore throat that lasts more than 3 months and the accompanying inflammation of the tonsils. Usually the disease is the result of recurrent inflammations. The disease is caused by a mixed infection with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Symptoms of the disease, in addition to the metallic taste in the mouth, are also a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and bad breath.
4. pharyngitis – is an inflammation that usually affects the mucous membranes of the throat, sometimes also affecting the tonsils. Symptoms of the disease are reddening of the mucous membranes and persistent sore throat. Most often, children between 4 and 7 years old suffer from it. The more immature the immune system is, the greater the likelihood of contracting the disease in question.

A metallic taste in the mouth and pregnancy

The presence of a metallic taste in the mouth in this state is usually a side effect of the hormonal changes taking place in the female body. In this case, it is not a symptom of a medical condition, so it should not be alarming. Typically, women experience a metallic taste in their mouths in the first trimester, but it disappears on its own after a few months. Sometimes it is caused by, for example, caffeine.

A metallic taste in the mouth and Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a generalized granulomatous disease. It is most common in the mediastinum and lungs. Sometimes, however, it may involve the skin, heart, eyes, or the central nervous system. The disease is still not fully understood, so it is impossible to pinpoint its causes. Usually it wears off after a while and has no sequelae. It is chronic and progressive in most patients.

The symptoms of sarcoidosis depend on the type of disease. One of them, however, is a metallic aftertaste. The disease is difficult to detect due to the fact that characteristic changes are often not noticeable in patients. Lung X-ray, blood calcium, and lymph node biopsy are required to make a diagnosis.

How do I get rid of the metallic taste in my mouth?

Begin by diagnosing what triggers the metallic taste in your mouth and then eliminate them. In most cases, this is enough to make the discomfort disappear. It is not uncommon that a metallic taste in the mouth causes poor oral hygiene. However, when it turns out that this is not enough, then it is advisable to consult a doctor and take part in tests to identify the causes of the disease.

When you get a metallic taste in your mouth, don’t panic. At the beginning, it is worth reaching for sour hard candy or citrus fruit. Cleaning your tongue each time you brush your teeth and rinsing your mouth with a salt solution will also help. Sometimes the presence of an unpleasant aftertaste causes the use of a vitamin preparation.

People with a metallic taste in their mouths and at the same time feeling the need to eat strange things like chalk, ash, clay or ice, should see a doctor immediately and have a blood test done. Nausea should also not be underestimated, especially when it lasts throughout the day and makes it impossible to eat daily meals.

A metallic taste in the mouth and oral hygiene

Following the rules of proper oral hygiene is often enough to get rid of the metallic aftertaste in the mouth. Although it is a simple activity, not everyone knows how to do it correctly. First of all, you need to have the right toothbrush, i.e. one that does not irritate the gums – the choice is huge, you can use both traditional and electric toothbrushes.

In order to be effective brushing your teeth, you should brush them for no less than 2 minutes. Brushing your teeth is not about freshening your breath, but about removing food debris, drink discoloration, and bacteria from your teeth. Dentists say brushing your teeth for 2 minutes is the bare minimum. It is equally important to use the correct washing technique – you should wash them with a sweeping motion, not by making a circle on the surface of the teeth.

Brushing your teeth with a sweeping motion makes it easier to get rid of food and food residues. It is also inadvisable to wash the dental arch with just one move. Each tooth should be washed separately, starting with the gum and ending with the crown. Teeth should be cleaned both from the outside and inside. Interestingly, you should not rinse your mouth with water immediately after brushing your teeth – otherwise the fluoride will stop working.

Brushing your teeth with just a toothbrush is not enough. Floss should also be used to remove all food residues. Thanks to it, it is possible to reach the tooth gaps and get rid of bacteria causing caries. The final step in brushing your teeth is using a rinse aid to remove whatever the toothbrush and floss couldn’t handle.

Metallic aftertaste and halitosis

Halitosis is also known as bad breath. Its causes include periodontitis, poor oral hygiene and pathological coating of the tongue. However, people with halitosis do not notice this fact. This is a common problem that affects approximately 25% of Europeans, Americans and Japanese. In some cases, a metallic aftertaste may also be a symptom of halitosis.

A metallic taste in the mouth and the test of the sense of taste

The presence of a metallic aftertaste in the mouth could indicate a taste disturbance. The method of testing the sense of taste is gusometry. This is an uncomplicated method that uses physiological stimuli. It consists in the assessment of taste thresholds and the assessment of the over-threshold sense of taste, or in recording the evoked potentials in electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography.

The causes of taste and smell disorders

1. Vitamin and mineral deficiency

Zinc plays an important role in the maturation of the taste buds. It also takes part in the transmission of electrical impulses in the nervous system. When an element is deficient in the body, a person begins to experience taste stimuli differently. For zinc to be properly absorbed into the body, copper is needed, the deficiency of which causes taste disturbances and, for example, the metallic taste in question.

1. Nervous system disorders

Anatomical injuries to the nerve fibers on the tongue are also the cause of dysgeusia – these fibers are present on up to two-thirds of the tongue. Complications after middle ear surgery or during anesthesia of the mandibular nerve are also the cause of abnormalities in the perception of taste. Injury to the glossopharyngeal nerves can have serious health consequences and lead to a complete loss of taste buds.

1. Chemical compounds

The metallic taste in the mouth is also caused by chemical factors such as polluted air, toxic compounds, tobacco smoke, toxic compounds – this can result in inflammation. The perception of tastes can also be affected by alcohol, as well as mouthwashes and toothpastes. People with a taste disorder often define these symptoms as “metallic taste” or “bitter taste”.

1. Olfactory Relative Syndrome

This is an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The obsessed person has a persistent fear that they are giving off an unpleasant odor. Moreover, to a large extent the thoughts of such a person revolve around smells and compulsorily check the smell of the body and clothes. The symptoms of people with olfactory referential syndrome are unjustified, but the patient is convinced that they are real.