Sour taste in the mouth in adults
Almost everyone knows the sour taste in the mouth. It is usually associated with ingestion of food or irritating drinks, but can sometimes be a sign of serious pathologies that need to be addressed.

Almost all of us experience a bitter-sour taste in our mouth from time to time. This may be due to the ingestion of acidic, irritating foods or drinks that we have consumed in the last couple of hours before the onset of discomfort. However, if a sour taste often appears in the mouth, this symptom should not be ignored, as this sometimes indicates a more serious health problem.

The human digestive system is very complex, but at the same time it is easily subject to changes under the influence of aggressive factors or internal changes occurring in one or more systems or organs of the body. This means that a sour or bitter taste in the mouth can be caused by various reasons, including painful ones. Each of these causes has its own method of diagnosis and treatment.

Causes of sour taste in the mouth in adults

The likely causes of sour taste can be divided into four main categories.

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Food passes from the oral cavity, where it is pre-chewed and processed by saliva, into a narrow tube called the esophagus, and from there to the stomach, where the process of active digestion begins. There is a small valve at the beginning of the stomach that prevents food from flowing back up the esophagus from the stomach. The valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. In people with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, it does not open properly, allowing food to enter the esophagus from the stomach. GERD causes various symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, sour or bitter taste, bad breath, burning sensation in the stomach. throat, difficulty swallowing, feeling of a lump in the throat, coughing and hoarse voice. There are various causes of GERD such as heavy overeating, acidic foods, fatty foods, regular caffeine intake, alcohol abuse, regular smoking, pregnancy, obesity, etc.

Medicines. Some medicines taken for other conditions may leave residual amounts of the drug in the mouth or affect the taste buds in the brain or tongue. This can cause a sour taste in the mouth. Experts have found that there are more than 250 different drugs that can cause a sour taste in the mouth. They can be classified as:

  • antibiotics are the most common culprit, examples include sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, trimethoprim, ampicillin, metronidazole, etc;
  • medicines given as part of chemotherapy, such as etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin;
  • medicines used for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, migraine, etc., as well as some muscle relaxants;
  • medicines prescribed for cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, diuretics, statins, etc.
  • prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines, bronchodilators, and drugs to treat inflammation, reduce smoking addiction, fungal and viral infections;
  • medicines prescribed for psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, as well as mood stabilizers and sleeping pills.

Zinc deficiency. Zinc is one of those minerals that the body needs (albeit in small amounts) for good health. They come from the food we consume, such as red meat, shellfish, dairy products, nuts, beans, oysters, legumes, and certain vegetables. Zinc deficiency can occur if a person does not get enough zinc from food, zinc is not absorbed properly in the intestines, or a person is taking medications that interfere with zinc absorption. These include thiazide diuretics, captopril (an ACE inhibitor), and penicillamine. These drugs are used to treat a wide range of conditions such as cancer, diabetes, liver disease, celiac disease, chronic kidney disease, pancreatitis, sickle cell anemia, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Other reasons. There are countless other conditions or causes of sour taste in the mouth, some of them are:

  • smoking or chewing tobacco over time can affect taste buds and make food less palatable;
  • some people suffer from a decrease in saliva production, which creates an incorrect perception of taste – a condition called xerostomia or dry mouth syndrome; xerostomia can be caused by dehydration, due to which dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth causes a sour taste in the mouth;
  • anxiety and stress, as they can cause dry mouth syndrome;
  • various infections or diseases cause inflammation, which can increase the sensation of sour taste or create an incorrect perception of taste;
  • fungal infections in the mouth, such as oral thrush;
  • failure to regularly brush your teeth or fail to follow the rules of oral hygiene can cause a sour taste in your mouth;
  • in women, pregnancy and menopause are known to cause a sour taste in the mouth due to hormonal changes;
  • menopause, which, like pregnancy, can cause a sour taste in the mouth due to changes in hormone levels
  • brain injury or surgery can affect the area that controls taste perception and create an incorrect taste perception;
  • neurological disorders such as dementia, Bell’s palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors;
  • Radiation therapy used to treat head and neck cancer can damage saliva tissue and cause a sour taste in the mouth.
  • lead poisoning due to excessively lead-contaminated water or air;
  • syndromes that are not fully understood, such as pine nut syndrome or burning mouth syndrome.

Symptoms of sour taste in the mouth in adults

A sour taste in the mouth is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • loss or decrease in sense of smell;
  • burning mouth syndrome – burning, tingling or itching in the mouth, especially in the area of ​​​​the tongue, sometimes spreading to the lips and other areas of the mouth;
  • nasal congestion (difficulty breathing through the nose);
  • other altered taste sensations, such as a metallic taste in the mouth;
  • dry mouth.

Treatment of sour taste in the mouth in adults

As you can see from the above, recurring cases of sour taste in the mouth is not an easy condition that can be alleviated with home remedies or antacids.

Consult with a gastroenterologist or general practitioner. The doctor carefully diagnoses the underlying disease and then prescribes the right course of treatment for the best results.

Diagnostics

Finding the exact cause is a multi-step procedure that includes:

  • study of medical history, analysis of your medications;
  • examination of the head, neck and oral cavity.

Subsequently, the doctor may prescribe several additional tests.

Various taste tests are carried out. The patient is asked to taste sweet, salty, sour, and bitter taste solutions to determine their quality and intensity in order to evaluate taste sensations.

If a bacterial or fungal infection is suspected, swabs are sometimes done.

In some cases, a head injury can affect the nerves that supply the taste buds and cause a change or loss of the sense of taste. In these cases, a CT scan or MRI may be needed.

Blood or urine tests are done to diagnose any underlying medical conditions.

Modern treatments

Treatment for a taste disorder depends on the underlying cause.

If the sour taste or any change in taste sensation is due to medication, it is recommended that the patient’s medical history be reviewed and the change in medication intake assessed.

If it is caused by a chronic disease or condition, evaluation and treatment of that condition is recommended.

Zinc supplements are prescribed for zinc-deficient patients, and according to some studies, they are even prescribed for patients with unknown causes of taste changes.

Changes in taste sensation due to radiation therapy or chemotherapy will gradually decrease over several months after stopping treatment. These patients may also benefit from taking zinc.

A sour taste in the mouth after brushing your teeth or any dental treatment is temporary and goes away on its own after a few hours.

Prevention of sour taste in the mouth in adults at home

Here are some common, tried-and-true tips and measures to reduce sour taste in your mouth:

  • maintaining good oral hygiene, which includes brushing twice a day, flossing, brushing the tongue and rinsing the mouth, helps reduce bad taste if it is caused by gum disease or other oral infections;
  • Chewing sugar-free gum and drinking more water can help reduce dry mouth and change the way you taste.

Popular questions and answers

Answered popular questions about sour taste in the mouth dentist Julia Lapushkina.

Sour taste in the mouth – is it dangerous?

The oral cavity is part of the digestive tract, and all organs of this system are distinguished by morphological unity. More often, a sour taste is one of the symptoms of diseases of the digestive tract. That is why the participation of a gastroenterologist in the treatment is mandatory.

However, if dental treatment is ignored, recovery is not as fast as we would like. Indeed, against the background of diseases of the digestive tract, the oral cavity also suffers, which can also cause unpleasant aftertastes, for example, bitter and even metallic. To break this vicious circle requires the participation of several specialists and an integrated approach to treatment.

Sometimes the cause of the sour taste is difficult to find. Even against the background of relative health, the taste does not disappear, and then its cause must be sought in the oral cavity, namely in orthopedic structures. Due to the potential difference, galvanic currents can be formed that affect the mucous membrane and cause unpleasant aftertastes, and not only sour ones.

What foods can cause a sour taste in your mouth?

Sour taste in the mouth can be caused by foods that reduce the consumption of foods with a sour or bitter taste, such as red meat, coffee and tea – these should be reduced.

A nutritious diet including eggs, dairy products, fish, fruits and vegetables will help.

Adding herbs and spices to food will enhance its flavor.

What diseases can cause a sour taste in the mouth?

A sour taste in the mouth can be a natural reaction to eating sour food, or it can be a symptom of a medical condition. The main reasons: diseases of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, taking medications or dietary supplements.

One of the most common causes of sour taste is gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD). It is associated with insufficiency of the lower esophageal sphincter, resulting in the reflux of acidic stomach contents (hydrochloric acid) into the esophagus and oral cavity.

Also, a sour taste can appear without casting, then they talk about functional heartburn. This condition is based on neural mechanisms: the nervous system misperceptions of common stimuli.

The appearance of a sour taste in pregnant women can also be attributed to functional casting. This is due to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to an increase in the uterus. As a rule, after childbirth, this symptom disappears.

If bitterness joins the sour taste, then we must look for the cause in the work of the gallbladder. Sweetish taste – problems of the pancreas.

Another group of reasons may be changes in the oral cavity due to the growth of pathogenic flora in gingivitis, stomatitis, and caries. Therefore, it is also necessary to contact a dentist and an ENT specialist.

Is it possible to eliminate the sour taste in the mouth with folk methods?

The elimination of sour taste depends largely on the cause. Normalization of nutrition is an important step in maintaining health, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. Stopping smoking and alcohol can also lead to a normalization of taste.

You can often hear recommendations for taking soda, but doctors do not recommend dulling the symptoms, it is better to understand the causes and eliminate it.

Are there any drugs that will help get rid of the sour taste in the mouth?

Sometimes in the presence of a sour taste, especially in combination with heartburn, patients take antacids on their own. These are drugs that can quickly eliminate symptoms, but are only episodic in nature. Therefore, we recommend not to self-medicate, but to consult a specialist.

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