Yuck! 5 Causes of a Bitter Taste in Your Mouth

There it is again—that nasty, metallic taste in your mouth. It seems you have it more often than not, no matter what you eat, but you’re fed up with it! What could be causing this foul, bitter taste? Understanding its potential origins can help you know what you can do about the situation. Here are some of the most common causes and some tips for fighting back against a bitter taste in your mouth.

Hormone Fluctuations

Throughout adulthood, hormone levels can change, especially for women. During pregnancy and menopause, the mouth can develop a metallic taste or in later years even a burning sensation. It can become extremely painful!

Dry Mouth

The saliva your mouth produces not only keeps it lubricated but also contributes to the taste. If you aren’t making enough saliva, this dry environment can start to taste foul. This symptom, called dry mouth, is often the result of smoking, certain medications, dehydration, and certain illnesses like Sjogren’s syndrome. If allowed to persist, dry mouth can also increase the odds of tooth decay and gum disease.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a condition where food and acid from the stomach come back up and enter the esophagus and mouth. These digestive enzymes found in this acid taste bitter, giving you that unpleasant flavor.

Certain Medications

Some medicines contain ingredients that can leave a bitter taste in your mouth, including those with metallic elements. For instance, vitamins that have zinc and lithium found in certain psychiatric medications can have this effect.

Illness

When you have a cold or a worse illness like a sinus infection, your body works extra hard to fight the sickness with an inflammation-mediating protein. It is believed that this protein impacts taste buds, making foods and beverages, including water, have a bitter or metallic flavor that persists in the mouth.  

How to Get Rid of Bitter Taste

Methods to deal with a foul-tasting mouth are rather simple. Here’s what you need to do:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice each day.
• Floss at least once per day to keep oral bacteria under control.
• Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
• Drink plenty of fluid, especially water to hydrate the mouth.
• Chew sugar-free gum to encourage saliva production.
• Talk to your doctor and dentist about your symptoms or the side effects of your medication.
• Avoid spicy, fatty foods and try to maintain a healthy weight to reduce acid reflux.
• Try to stop smoking tobacco.

It’s normal to have a wide range of tastes in your mouth at given times, but if you have a consistently bitter-tasting mouth, it could be a fixable problem. Take these steps, and you can get relief!

About the Practice

Davidson Dental Associates proudly has four dentists on staff to serve patients throughout the Washington, DC area. Whether you just need a routine checkup or have a dental emergency, the team is ready and happy to meet your needs with decades of clinical experience and training. If you would like to schedule an appointment at Davidson Dental Associates, reach out online or call the office at 202-775-0022.