On occasion, everyone will have a bad taste in their mouth, but it usually goes away after brushing your teeth or rinsing out your mouth. Sometimes, the bad taste remains due to an underlying cause. No matter what the underlying cause is, having a bad taste might ruin your appetite, possibly leading to nutritional deficiencies and other problems. Work with one of our experienced general dentistry dentists located in Basking Ridge and Morristown, NJ today if the bad taste does not go away after a day or two in order to pinpoint the cause, especially if you are experiencing changes in your appetite or sense of smell.
What should you consider a bad taste?
This varies from person to person. For some individuals, the unpleasant taste in their mouths is metallic. For others, it may be bitter or foul. You might notice a diminished sense of taste during meals.
What is causing the bad taste?
A whole host of things may be causing the bad taste, including:
- Poor hygiene and dental problems: Not flossing and brushing regularly can cause gingivitis, which can cause a bad taste in your mouth. Infections, abscesses and wisdom teeth coming in may cause it as well.
- Dry mouth: Saliva restrict the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity and helps remove bits of food, which can cause a bad taste. Medications, aging, nerve damage, tobacco use, autoimmune conditions and diabetes may all cause dry mouth.
- Oral thrush: This is a type of yeast infection that grows in warm, moist areas, causing an unpleasant taste.
- Infections: Respiratory infections and Hepatitis can both affect the taste in your mouth.
- Hormonal changes: Pregnancy and menopause can cause many sensory changes.
- Gastrointestinal causes: Bile and acid reflux have similar symptoms and can occur simultaneously.
- Medications and other substances: Medications, vitamins and dietary supplements, and cancer treatment may all cause a metallic taste in the mouth.
- Neurological conditions: Damage to the nerves in your brain can affect how you taste.
How do you treat a bad taste?
That will depend on the underlying cause. Before making a diagnosis, your dentist and other medical professionals will need to take your full medical history and inquire about other symptoms. In addition, they may need to order certain tests. Depending on their findings, they may help:
- Adjust your medications or supplements by suggesting an alternative or a different dosage.
- Address the underlying medical conditions by recommending procedures, medications and/or medicated mouth rinses
- Prescribing home remedies like better oral hygiene, reduced sugar intake, increased water intake, cessation of smoking and more
Reach out to our team if you have any further questions or would like help treating the bad taste.
Contact The Dental Associates of Basking Ridge
Please contact us today to schedule an appointment if you have any dental issues.
