If you have a bad taste in your mouth, the culprit could be many different causes. From oral hygiene to medical conditions to environmental factors, it can be tough to figure out exactly why your mouth tastes bitter, sour, metallic, or musty. Dr. Thomas Hernandez of Heritage Dental in Tomball, Texas, can help you catch the culprit, starting with this article.
There’s a name for that
First things first: Let’s cover the fact that this is an occurrence with an actual medical name, meaning you’re not the only person who experiences weird tastes in your mouth.
It’s called dysgeusia, and it can occur in response to a number of triggers. Dysgeusia refers to an altered sense of taste, and you may experience this while eating, drinking, or while not consuming anything at all.
Causes of bad tastes in your mouth
Aftertastes
A bad taste can often be traced back to a meal or snack you ate earlier in the day or even the day before. Think about what you last ate — if it was something potent. A simple swig of mouthwash or a quick brush could eliminate the bad taste.
Poor dental hygiene
If you regularly experience a bad taste in your mouth regardless of what you eat, it may be time to evaluate your dental hygiene routine. If you don’t brush and floss twice a day, those steps alone could keep the bad taste in your mouth at bay.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth occurs when your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva, although factors like the weather can contribute to dry mouth, too. Without enough saliva, you may experience an overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth as well as excess food residue, both of which can lead to a bad taste in your mouth.
Pregnancy
Many pregnant women experience bad tastes in their mouths, such as metallic or bitter tastes, due to hormone fluctuations. The hormone estrogen can affect your taste buds, and estrogen levels change during pregnancy.
Medications
If you’re on prescription medication, it could be the culprit behind that bad taste in your mouth. Some medications that are known to cause a bad taste in the mouth include:
- Antibiotics
- Antidepressants and antianxiety medications
- Antihistamines
- Diabetes medications
- And many more
Other medications may cause dry mouth, which can lead to a bad taste.
Medical conditions
These conditions may cause a bad taste in your mouth:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux
- Neurological disorders that affect the way your brain perceives taste
- Respiratory infections
- Hepatitis B
- Hormonal disorders or fluctuations
People undergoing cancer treatment may experience a metallic or sour taste during, after and in between treatments.
Environmental factors
If you’re near dust, debris, chemicals, or fumes, you may get a bad taste in your mouth while in the area, and it might last for a while after you leave. This is especially true if you’ve been exposed to lead or mercury, which can cause a metallic taste.
Can’t get to the bottom of that bad taste in your mouth? Allow Dr. Hernandez to help you figure it out. Schedule an appointment by calling Heritage Dental at 281-206-0926 or book online.
