Is Your Mouth Tasting like Pennies?
If you are otherwise healthy, that metallic taste in your mouth usually goes away after you’re done with a cold, an infection has cleared, or you’ve stopped taking certain medications. The condition is typically benign and so, there’s nothing to worry about. But there may be conditions that result in the metallic tang that you should know about. We list here the most common ones.
At the top of the list is poor oral hygiene. Lack of proper brushing and flossing can lead to tooth decay and gum diseases, infections that alter taste. When you treat these infections, the odd taste goes away.
Now, there are prescription drugs that treat conditions outside of your mouth and taking them changes taste perception. Drugs like tetracycline antibiotics, allopurinol for gout, lithium for psychiatric conditions, and some cardiac drugs can leave a metallic taste as they are absorbed into your system and passes your saliva.
Antidepressants can cause dry mouth and still alter taste because they close the taste buds. Multivitamins with heavy metals (such as copper, zinc or chromium) or cold remedies (such as zinc lozenges) can cause a metallic taste. So can prenatal vitamins, and iron or calcium supplements.
Upper respiratory infections, colds and sinusitis change your sense of taste but will resolve when your infection clears up. The change in taste can also affect women in their early stages of pregnancy, those who are under chemotherapy and radiation for the treatment of cancer, and those with dementia. In dementia, taste buds connected to nerves do not respond as before due to the breakdown of that part of the brain that regulates taste.
Another cause for the taste change is exposure to high levels of mercury or lead. Inhaling them can produce this metallic taste in the mouth.
Better consult your doctor if this change persist.
Knowing About Taste Changes | Consult with our Lynnwood Dentist
Ask your dentist at Lynnwood Song Dental about metallic taste in the mouth and if it’s dental-related he can resolve with treatment and advice. Otherwise, a medical consultation is the next thing to do.
