9 Possible Reasons for That Metallic Taste in Your Mouth

Does your mouth often feel like you’ve been sucking on a coin?

A metallic taste in the mouth is an unpleasant but common condition that almost everyone experiences at some point in their life.

Why might your tongue taste like it’s made of steel wool? There are several possible reasons.

1. Serious Disease or Disorder Side-Effect

A coppery-taste in the mouth could be due to neurological complications. A nervous system problem can affect the way your taste buds perceive flavors. Stroke, Bell’s Palsy, and dementia are neurological problems that impact taste perception.

Kidney or liver disease, undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, and middle ear surgery can also affect the way your mouth tastes.

Has your health checked-out at your last doctor’s appointment? There could be other less serious factors that cause a metallic taste.

2. Medication Side-Effect

Cancer medications and certain antibiotics may temporarily cause your mouth to taste metallic. Some osteoporosis, glaucoma, and blood pressure medications can have similar side-effects.

3. Pregnancy

Many women find that the hormones from pregnancy make them more sensitive to smells. This can make their sense of taste different and give foods a metallic flavor.

4. Zinc Imbalance

Too much or too little zinc in your system can cause make your mouth taste metallic.

5. Poor Oral Hygiene

If you have gum disease, heavy plaque buildup, or untreated tooth decay, then your sense of taste will be affected. Neglecting your oral health can lead to a metallic taste in your mouth.

6. Sinus Problems

Have you noticed that the bitter taste in your mouth shows up around allergy season? Any time your sinuses suffer infection or inflammation your ability to taste food properly will also suffer.

7. Vitamin Supplements

That metallic taste may be caused by your prenatal supplement or daily multivitamin. These supplements often contain high levels of metallic minerals that turn up in your saliva.

8. Food Allergies

Keep a food diary for a few days to see if the metallic taste in your mouth shows up after eating a particular food. It could signal an allergy or just a mild reaction to something like tree nuts or shellfish.

9. Exposure to Metallic Irritants

If you’ve been exposed to dangerous levels of metals such as lead or mercury, then a metallic taste is a common effect.

Metallic Taste in Your Mouth? What You Can Do

Visit a Tacoma dentist to find out what could be causing the metallic taste in your mouth. Try to improve your oral hygiene in the meantime. Keeping your mouth clean and hydrated can help you reduce unpleasant tastes.

To make your meals taste better, try new spices, herbs, and flavor combinations in your cooking. Use plastic plates and utensils for eating instead of metal ones.

Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free mints can also mask any coppery taste you experience. If you smoke, you may find that quitting improves your sense of taste, as well.

Contact Duke N. Bui, DDS, PS - Family Dentistry today to learn more about the potential causes for a metallic taste in your mouth.