We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. A metallic taste in your mouth is a type of taste disorder known medically as parageusia.
This unpleasant taste can develop suddenly or over longer periods of time. Your sense of taste is controlled by your taste buds and your olfactory sensory neurons. Olfactory sensory neurons are responsible for your sense of smell.
Your nerve endings transfer information from your taste buds and olfactory sensory neurons to your brain, which then identifies specific tastes. Many things can affect this complex system and, in turn, cause a metallic taste in the mouth. Impaired taste is a common side effect of certain medications. These medications include:. According to the American Cancer Society ACS , certain types of chemotherapy and radiation can cause a metallic taste.
This side effect is sometimes called chemo mouth. Studies suggest that certain vitamin supplements, such as vitamin D or zinc , can help prevent taste distortion in people undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy. This may indicate that certain vitamin deficiencies could contribute to taste distortion. Your sense of taste is closely related to your sense of smell.
When your sense of smell is distorted, it can have an impact on your sense of taste. Sinus issues are a common cause of metallic taste in the mouth. These can result from:. Your central nervous system CNS sends messages to the rest of your body, including messages about taste. This can result in impaired or distorted taste. Some pregnant women report a metallic taste, especially early in their pregnancy.
Others have pointed to an increase in the sense of smell , a symptom commonly associated with pregnancy, as the cause. Metallic taste has been identified as a symptom of some food allergies.
If you experience distorted taste after eating a certain type of food, such as shellfish or tree nuts , you may have a food allergy. Middle ear and ear tube surgery is often performed due to chronic ear infections , or otitis media.
Occasionally, the chorda tympani , a structure close to the inner ear that controls taste in the rear two-thirds of the tongue, may be damaged during surgery. This can result in distorted taste or parageusia. One case study showed significant improvement in taste with medication management. Poor oral and dental health can contribute to taste dysfunction.
These sinus problems could include anything from the common cold and sinus infections to middle-ear infections and nasal polyps, according to Medical News Today. Dysgeusia, which is an abnormal or impaired sense of taste, could be caused by a lack or an excess of zinc, says Kristin Koskinen , RDN. Malnutrition, which might include a zinc deficiency, may slow cell renewal, resulting in taste changes, according to Koskinen. On the other hand, people who take too much zinc through supplements could experience nausea, abdominal distress, or dysgeusia—in the form of that pesky metallic taste, Koskinen says.
Check out these 6 foods that can trick your taste buds. In addition to nausea, a common complaint of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is a metallic taste in the mouth. Similarly to other medications, drugs with bitter tastes injected into the bloodstream can get into the saliva, too, causing metal mouth in cancer patients, according to NPR.
Learn the 9 secrets your tongue could reveal about your health. People might experience a consistent metallic taste in their mouths within 12 to 48 hours of eating pine nuts, according to the FDA. Okeke-Igbokwe says that t he reason for the metallic tastes remains unclear. Find out the surprising reasons your taste buds prefer certain foods. One side effect of mercury poisoning is a metallic taste in your mouth, according to Dr.
That said, more severe symptoms, such as neurological issues, are more concerning. Exposure to mercury could stem from working in an industrial job or from eating methylmercury-contaminated fish, she adds. Okeke-Igbokwe says. A blocked nose is one symptom of a sinus issue. People with sinusitis often report dysgeusia. Also, people with this condition sometimes report a constant metallic taste in their mouth and in food and water.
People with other sicca syndromes also experience a dry mouth and a metallic taste. People who use metformin, for example, often say that they have a lingering metallic taste in the mouth.
Metformin is a treatment for diabetes. Research shows that the body excretes metformin into the saliva. Some other medications that can cause a metallic taste in the mouth include those for chemotherapy and radiation therapy , as well as:. In addition, some drugs — such as anticholinergics — may cause a dry mouth.
People may experience this as a metallic taste. Taste changes are a common side effect of many cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The American Cancer Society suggest the following tips for people who experience taste changes due to cancer treatment:. Substances that contain metals — such as iron, zinc, and copper — can also cause a metallic taste in the mouth.
Experts believe that this happens when the mineral causes oxidation of the salivary protein. Prenatal vitamins and calcium supplements may have this effect.
Scientists have found that closing the nasal passage may reduce the metallic taste from iron, but not from other minerals. The National Health Service NHS suggest that early pregnancy often causes taste changes, including a metallic taste in the mouth. Pregnancy can also cause cravings or a dislike for certain foods. Both of these symptoms tend to go away with time. Because the taste buds send signals to the brain, taste changes can occur if part of the brain is not working as it should.
Research suggests that dysgeusia commonly affects older adults, especially those receiving residential care. This may affect their appetite and nutritional status. A metallic taste in the mouth can sometimes be a symptom of Guillain-Barre syndrome. This is an autoimmune condition that affects the peripheral nervous system. In , researchers described a person with this syndrome whose only symptom in the early stages was dysgeusia.
A metallic taste can be an early symptom 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.
0コメント