What Causes Bad Taste in Mouth?

We can taste and differentiate between the different flavors of food because of taste buds. These taste buds are present on your tongue, cheeks, roof of your mouth, in huge numbers. These taste buds are actually nerve endings which allow us to comprehend the different types of tastes. This combined with the sense of smell allows us to distinguish between the various foods and their tastes. Bad taste in mouth means that there is something seriously wrong with these taste buds and your sense of smell. When you have a bad taste in mouth, the food that you eat does not taste good, it sometimes tastes metallic. There are several causes of this bad taste, which are discussed below in detail.

Medications
Medications are the primary cause of bad taste. Too many antibiotics cause metallic taste in mouth. Neurological drugs, anti-thyroid drugs and zinc preparations top the list of the medicines that cause a metallic taste in mouth. A person who has this taste in mouth will not be able to enjoy any kind of food. This taste disappears after a few days after the medications are stopped.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is another factor that causes bad taste in mouth. Chemotherapy involves the use of strong medication and hence the taste of the mouth becomes bad. The person may experience bitter taste in the mouth due to chemotherapy.

Poor Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene causes bad breath or halitosis. The sulfur molecules in the mouth break down when they come in contact with the bacteria and that leads to stinking smell and a bad taste in the mouth. Food particles that are stuck in between the teeth rot and lead to bad breath and ultimately bad taste. Gum diseases are also equally responsible.

Pregnancy
There are certain periods in pregnancy when the woman might get a bad taste in the mouth. This can be followed by continuous nausea and vomiting. This is a common problem and the bad taste disappears after a few days. Most of the time, it is a result of the hormonal imbalances. The thing to remember is to eat food in spite of it not tasting good, to avoid becoming weak.

Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is one of the various causes of bad taste in mouth. Acid reflux is one of the bitter taste in mouth causes.

Fungal Infections in Mouth
Yeast infections and other fungal infections can be treated with anti-fungal creams and pills. But till the time they are completely cured, they cause an abnormal taste in the mouth and also result in bad breath.

Medical Issues
A person suffering from medical issues like neck cancer, injuries to the head, throat or mouth are the other causes of bad taste. It is difficult to say when the person will start tasting the food properly, as it will depend on the severity of the issue and also on the various types of medications that the person is taking. Nasal problems like a sinus infection, a common cold or a runny nose are also medical issues which rob the sense of smell. According to doctors, there are several medical conditions that lead to a bad taste in mouth after eating. This is also a temporary problem.

Treatment

Those conditions that cause bad taste temporarily, are easy to treat. If the person is suffering from a fungal infections, then eating yogurt might help in decreasing the bad taste. If the bad taste is the result of medications, then the person can ask for alternative medications. These might help to reduce the bad taste. Sucking on peppermints or mint is an option for the pregnant ladies. However, it should not be done continuously. Brushing the tongue while brushing the teeth is also helpful. This will not only help in getting rid of the bad breath but will make the bad taste more bearable. Regular flossing helps to avoid bad breath and bad taste. Regular dental check ups help to keep up the oral hygiene. A mixture of water with baking soda and salt, when used for gargling everyday helps to reduce the bad taste. Juices of citrus fruits also help to flush away the bad taste by producing more saliva. Cinnamon, fennel seeds and cloves provide temporary relief.

As you can see from the above, there are several causes of bad taste in mouth. Proper dental care and oral hygiene will help to get rid of this bad taste. There is nothing to worry if you have a bad taste in mouth as this is for a temporary period of time and will be gone after some time.