2023-07-18 06:50:19
What to do if this unpleasant taste appears?
Bitter taste in the mouth – this symptom often seems unpleasant to us, but not dangerous. In most cases this is true, but sometimes it can be a manifestation of an acute or chronic disease. Let’s try to figure out why there is bitterness in the mouth.
Bitterness in the mouth: causes and treatment
Why is it bitter in the mouth? This unpleasant sensation can occur due to diet, bad habits, or an unhealthy lifestyle. In many cases, rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth is enough to eliminate it. If such a taste persists following hygiene procedures and does not go away on its own, this may be a sign of a violation of the normal functioning of some body systems.
Here are some disorders and diseases that can cause a similar taste in the mouth.
Problems in the mouth
A bitter taste in the mouth is often due to disorders in the oral cavity itself – dental diseases, infections and insufficient salivation.
1. Xerostomia (dry mouth). Dry mouth occurs due to a decrease in saliva production or a change in its composition. The cause may be age-related changes, smoking, certain diseases, side effects of medications, and dehydration. [1]. With a lack of saliva, taste sensations may be distorted, and an unpleasant followingtaste may also occur.
2. Dental diseases. Various problems with teeth, gums and oral mucosa can cause an unpleasant followingtaste (including bitter). Among them:
caries – destruction of the hard tissues of the tooth gingivitis – inflammation of the gums periodontitis and periodontitis – inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth stomatitis – inflammation of the oral mucosa candidiasis – an inflammatory disease caused by opportunistic fungi
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Disorders of the digestive system
In some cases, a bitter taste in the mouth can be a sign of problems with the digestive system:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
It is one of the most common chronic digestive disorders. In GERD, the normal functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter is disrupted, causing the contents of the stomach to periodically back up into the esophagus. This disease can cause many unpleasant symptoms – severe heartburn, chest pain, nausea, belching, coughing, burning in the chest and throat, etc.
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Bitterness in the mouth in the morning is often caused by this particular disorder – during sleep, gastric juice and bile can enter the esophagus, and from there into the oral cavity [2].
Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas
Bitterness in the mouth can be a symptom of biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gallstone disease, and also occur following surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). If the outflow of bile is disturbed, it can enter the esophagus and from there into the oral cavity, causing a bitter taste.
Diseases of the brain and nervous system
Our brain is responsible for taste sensations, processing signals from taste buds located on the tongue and in the oral cavity. If the brain or nervous system malfunctions, these signals can be distorted. For example, gustatory hallucinations or “phantom” tastes may occur in traumatic brain injuries or following brain surgery. [3]. Also, taste disturbances, including bitterness in the mouth, are sometimes present with:
epilepsy multiple sclerosis migraines brain tumors dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) cerebrovascular accident neuropathies (damage to nerve fibers) certain mental disorders
Other reasons
Eating certain foods
Bitterness in the mouth following eating usually quickly passes on its own. But sometimes long-term effects are possible.
For example, some people have an increased sensitivity to the substances that make up pine nuts. They develop a persistent bad taste in the mouth (bitter or metallic) within 24 to 48 hours following eating nuts, which can last up to 2 weeks. [4].
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Taking medication or vitamins
Bitterness in the mouth (or other bad taste) is a common side effect of various medications. [5]. Some drugs are bitter in their own right, others can have a side effect on our nervous system by altering our taste perception. Among these medicines:
antibiotics drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases psychotropic drugs chemotherapy used for cancer
Age changes
After the age of 50, the number of taste buds on the tongue begins to gradually decrease. [6] – and first of all, the ability to recognize sweet and salty is deteriorating. Sensitivity to bitter taste lasts longer, which can cause a bitter taste to predominate in the mouth in older people.
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Smoking
Smoking can distort and dull our sense of taste. Both traditional cigarettes and vapes and smokeless tobacco often cause a bad taste in the mouth. After quitting smoking, taste sensitivity usually returns within a few weeks. [7].
Hormonal changes in women
A sharp change in hormonal levels during pregnancy can provoke a bitter taste in the mouth and distortion of taste sensations (especially in the first trimester) [8]. An unpleasant followingtaste can also occur due to the difference in the level of sex hormones in certain phases of the menstrual cycle and at the onset of menopause.
Bitterness in the mouth – what to do?
Whether the bitter taste is caused by an acute or chronic condition, it is important to make a correct diagnosis and find an effective treatment to address the root cause of the symptom. It is also worth adhering to the principles of a healthy lifestyle that will help prevent the appearance of an unpleasant followingtaste:
Observe oral hygiene. Brush your teeth regularly, it is also advisable to use dental floss to remove food debris.
Use sugar-free gum. Chewing gum encourages salivation and helps prevent dry mouth.
Try to cut down on alcohol and tobacco products or stop them
Drink enough liquid (It is recommended to consume at least 2.7 liters per day for women and at least 3.7 liters for men)
Try to eat less fatty, spicy and fried foods, which can provoke an exacerbation of various disorders of the digestive system. Avoid overeating. Villa A, Connell C, Abati S. Diagnosis and management of xerostomia and hyposalivation. Ther Clean Risk Management. 2015;11:45-51
Kabadi A, Saadi M, Schey R, Parkman HP. Taste and Smell Disturbances in Patients with Gastroparesis and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Jul 30;23(3):370-377. doi: 10.5056/jnm16132. PMID: 28147345; PMCID: PMC5503286
Mehkri Y, Hanna C, Sriram S, Reddy R, Hernandez J, Valisno JA, Lucke-Wold B. Overview of Neurotrauma and Sensory Loss. J Neurol Res Rev Rep. 2022;4(3):10.47363/JNRRR/2022(4)158. doi: 10.47363/JNRRR/2022(4)158. Epub 2022 May 20. PMID: 35692955; PMCID: PMC9186440.
Risso DS, Howard L, VanWaes C, Drayna D. A potential trigger for pine mouth: a case of a homozygous phenylthiocarbamide taster. Nutr Res. 2015 Dec;35(12):1122-5. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2015.09.011. Epub 2015 Oct 5. PMID: 26463018; PMCID: PMC4684458.
Douglass R, Heckman G. Drug-related taste disturbance: a contributing factor in geriatric syndromes. Can Fam Physician. 2010 Nov;56(11):1142-7. PMID: 21075995; PMCID: PMC2980431.
Akiko Fukunaga and others, Influences of Aging on Taste Perception and Oral Somatic Sensation, The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 60, Issue 1, January 2005, Pages 109–113,
Chéruel F, Jarlier M, Sancho-Garnier H. Effect of cigarette smoke on gustatory sensitivity, evaluation of the deficit and of the recovery time-course following smoking cessation. Tob Induc Dis. 2017 Feb 28;15:15. doi: 10.1186/s12971-017-0120-4. PMID: 28261024; PMCID: PMC5329949.
Kuga M. [A study of changes in gustatory sense during pregnancy]1996 Sep;99(9):1208-17. Japanese. doi: 10.3950/jibiinkoka.99.1208. PMID: 8914418.
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