Pregnancy brings in a whole new wave of happiness and enthusiasm in a woman’s life. On the other hand, it also causes a host of other changes in your body – nausea, vomiting, mood swings, cramps, and specific food cravings. One such change is the sour taste in your mouth.
A very common symptom of pregnancy – having a sour /metallic taste in the mouth is medically known as dysgeusia.
In case of an acid reflux, the contents of the stomach tend to regurgitate in to the esophagus and reach the mouth. Raised abdominal pressure associated with pregnancy affects the working of the lower esophageal sphincter; consequently, there will be a reflux of the stomach contents. Obese women are at a greater risk, as well as those carrying multiple fetuses; more so if there has been a prior history of GERD. Morning sickness may also cause a sour taste in the mouth during pregnancy.
Furthermore, certain medicines, antibiotics and prenatal vitamin supplements also cause a sour-bitter taste in the mouth.
Like morning sickness, metallic taste in the mouth tends to get better and may even disappear altogether when your hormones settle down a bit.
Pregnant women may find that the acid reflux symptoms disappear after pregnancy. Simple treatments – such as consuming small and frequent meals, not lying down after eating and lying on your left side whenever you lie down or sleep, helps decrease the extent of the reflux during pregnancy.
How To Get Rid Of Bad Taste In Mouth During Pregnancy?
- The most important remedy to manage this discomfort is water. Make sure that you consume plenty of water though the day; at least 3 liters.
- Acidic flavors help deal with the problem as well. Focus on sour flavors such as citrus juices, lemonade, and vinegar. All these foods have the power to break through or at least neutralize the sour taste in your mouth during pregnancy; what’s more, they also increase the production of saliva which will help wash the unpleasant taste away successfully.
- In case you’ve been prescribed certain drugs and medicines, these could be causing the discomfort; confer with your health care provider / OB-GYN and ask her to change it for you.
- Oral hygiene helps. Brush your teeth 2 to 3 times every day. Brush your tongue each time you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with a mild salt solution or a baking soda solution several times daily; it helps neutralize the pH levels in your mouth and keeps away the sour taste.
- Chew mint leaves; that helps banish the unpleasant sensation in the mouth. You could also have a glass of mint tea every day in the morning. It helps keep most GI related troubles at bay.
- Ginger is a very effective natural remedy to get rid of nausea, manage acid regurgitation as well as to control your senses of smell and taste.
- Nonetheless, please confer with your OB-GYN before you embark up on any self treatment. Discuss with her what is the best management option for you.