Chalky Taste in Mouth

Isn't it really annoying and bothersome to have that weird chalky taste in the mouth all the time? You brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with a mouthwash, use breath freshener, drink water, eat something, but that awful taste just doesn't agree to leave your mouth! What is more annoying is the fact that every time you talk, swallow your spit, or even eat or drink anything, you keep reminding yourself that your mouth just feels awful. In fact, many times, the chalky taste interferes with your food and drink, making it difficult for you to enjoy your meal. The bottom line is that you can't enjoy, talking, drinking, dining, or even swallowing your spit! But what could be the reason behind this? Why has your mouth started feeling chalky all of a sudden? Well, there could be various reasons behind the same, starting from a food that you ate, to a health issue, to a medication that you are taking. The various aspects and possibilities of all these causes are explained in the following section.

How Does it Feel to Have a Chalky Taste in Mouth

Have you ever eaten a chalk when you were a kid. I know I have! Or have you ever chewed on an antacid? If you have then you would know exactly how it feels when all you can taste and sense in your mouth is chalk! Your mouth feels dry, you feel thirsty, and it feels that there is a layer of some slippery clay like substance all over your tongue and even your upper jaw, like how it feels when you have some fatty meat like beef, and yes, it doesn't go away easily. In fact, drinking water made it worse, at least for me. Sometimes, you also experience a shrill feeling in case you end up rubbing your upper and lower teeth together... and the feeling is just so pathetic! Many times, there will be a mix of tastes between chalky to metallic, some people have also described it as the taste of a wet cardboard, but you would know that there is definitely a bad taste in your mouth and something needs to be done to make it go away.

What Causes Chalky Taste in Mouth?

What can cause this kind of taste in your mouth all of a sudden? The first thing that you need to do is to think about what did you do, or more precisely eat in the past few hours or days? Have you started on with a new medication, have you been feeling sick or have you eaten something that tasted funny! If you can think of something among the aforementioned possibilities then you have the answer to the 'why' behind your taste. Have a look at some of the common reasons.

☛ Are you Pregnant?
I was going through various online discussion forums, and to my surprise many women who experienced chalky taste in the mouth found out that they were pregnant! The changes in the hormones that occur during pregnancy also affect your taste in the mouth and you may experience chalky taste in your mouth.

☛ Are you Suffering from Health Conditions like...
Sinus infection, tooth decay, fibromyalgia, heartburn, respiratory infection, or acid reflux problems. If that is the case, then these problems can also cause your mouth to feel chalky and weird.

☛ Medications and Drugs!
Did you know that prenatal vitamins can cause chalky taste in the mouth? Apart from them, medications like antihistamine, magnesium supplements or any other kind of vitamin supplements can cause chalky taste in the mouth. Other causes like treatment and radiation therapies like chemotherapy, can also interfere with your taste buds and cause abnormal taste in the mouth.

☛ Foods that Can Make your Mouth Chalky!
Research also states that some added ingredients or regular consumption for certain protein shakes, homemade ice-cream, and yogurts can cause chalky taste. If you feel that these items taste chalky or are not how they are supposed to be, then it is advisable not to consume them at all. There are some brands which feel more chalkier as compared to others.

If you can identify with the aforementioned causes, then it is best to consult with your healthcare specialist as soon as possible to confirm the possible cause behind the same. The treatment for the same would depend upon the exact cause. But make sure that you get yourself checked to make sure it's nothing serious.