The mouth has around 10,000 taste buds which contribute to the sensation of taste and help individuals appreciate and enjoy their food. These taste buds are also very helpful in ensuring that the person does not eat contaminated, rotten, or toxic food. These taste buds are, thus, very important to the body.
A metallic taste in the mouth can be very inconvenient and can be very annoying. This condition is medically referred to as dysgeusia. While this condition may not be associated with any specific ailment, however it may be indicative of an ailment.
What Are The Causes Of Metal Taste On Tongue?
Here are some common causes of metallic taste in the mouth,
- Dental amalgams, dental appliances, and dentures with metals can primarily associated with metal taste in mouth.
- Gingivitis or gum disease can also result in metallic taste in the mouth. Other oral disease like tooth abscess, periodontal disease, etc can also result in metallic taste in the mouth.
- Lead toxicity, copper toxicity and selenium overdose are some of the other factors that may be responsible for metal taste in the mouth
- Fungal disease, oral thrush or poor oral hygiene can also contribute to bad and metallic taste in the mouth
- Certain medications meant for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, Bell’s Palsy, diabetes, and GERD can also result in metallic taste in the mouth
- Gastric regurgitation is another factor responsible for metal taste in the mouth
- People taking chemotherapy medications and radiation therapy of experience symptoms like metallic taste in the mouth.
Home Remedies For Metallic Taste On Tongue
To remove the metallic taste from the mouth, try the following home remedies. However, if the condition persists it is recommended to get in touch with your physician immediately,
- Improving oral hygiene. Brush at least twice a day. Floss at least once a week. Flossing helps remove oral plaque which gets accumulated between the teeth.
- Eating fresh yogurt. Yogurt is alkaline and stimulates the production of saliva, which in turn plays a vital role in managing oral hygiene.
- Herbal teas may also solve the problem – including chamomile teas. Also drink a couple of glasses of milk with a teaspoon of honey every day.
- Rinsing the mouth with a mixture of baking soda and water.
- Consuming food rich in vitamin C, such as lemons, lime, oranges, etc. Vitamin C helps improve natural immunity and prevents occurrence of secondary infections in the mouth.
- Ill fitted dentures can be responsible for trauma to the gums and can be an important cause of metallic taste in the mouth. Visit your dentist and try to realign your dentures as per your oral requirements.
- Anemia and nutritional deficiencies can also result in metallic taste in the mouth. Iron supplements, Vitamin B complex supplements and calcium supplements can be beneficial in getting rid of metallic taste in the mouth.
Whenever I take a course of metronidazole or Tinidozole for Amoebic collitis, of course prescribed by my doctor, I get metallic taste in my mouth. But as soon as the course is over, the taste becomes normal.
If you are a smoker, you may have metallic taste in your mouth.
Recurrent Sinusitis is another important cause for metallic taste which many people may not consider.