The sour taste in the mouth is disturbing and unnerving. Unpleasant taste sensations in the mouth outside of food consumption are a sign of a large number of diseases.
There is such a gastronomic concept as aftertaste. And it is not always pleasant. This is a reaction to stimuli from the taste buds located on the tongue and the inner surface of the cheeks.
A sour taste in the mouth can be the result of using lemon, vinegar, and various marinades for cooking. During the period of not eating food, no foreign tastes should be felt in the oral cavity. If the aftertaste does not go away, or any additional symptoms appear, then the cause of this phenomenon should be identified.
Causes of discomfort
The taste in the mouth tells about the health of the whole body.
The reasons for the appearance of acid in the oral cavity can be both diseases of various organs and a joyful event - the onset of pregnancy.
Possible diseases that cause an unpleasant aftertaste:
- increased acidity of gastric juice;
- excess production of hydrochloric acid;
- disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract - pancreas, reflux disease;
- periodontal diseases;
- the presence of crowns or fillings made of different metals in the oral cavity - such combinations form a galvanic couple and a physical and chemical reaction of electrolysis takes place in the oral cavity;
- electrolyte imbalance;
- dehydration of the body;
- taking medications;
- impaired bile formation and liver pathology - as a result of eating fatty and heavy foods; pregnancy in the middle and late stages - the growing uterus compresses the stomach and hydrochloric acid refluxes into the esophagus and oral cavity.
All these processes are accompanied by additional symptoms. Therefore, if you regularly experience an unpleasant sensation in the oral cavity, you should undergo a comprehensive examination.
If at the same time there is pain in the epigastrium, nausea, and stool disorder, then you need to urgently contact a medical institution.
The following video will familiarize you with the causes of sour taste in the mouth:
Fennel
Fennel (pH 6.9) Anise-flavored dill, great food for acid reflux, actually improves stomach function. This crunchy vegetable has a unique taste - a mild licorice flavor. Sliced thin (white bottom), it makes Arugula and Spinach Salad a healthy choice. It's also great for chicken dishes and appetizers, as long as you like that licorice (licorice root) flavor.
Acid and sweet
Acidity in the mouth is not a very pleasant sensation
A pure taste sensation is rare. Since there are receptors in the oral cavity for determining and analyzing various combinations.
In a pathological process, acid may predominate, but in most cases other flavors are also present. This provides additional information to find the cause of the unpleasant sensation.
Sweet and sour taste is caused by the following conditions:
- increased blood glucose levels due to stress, physical exertion;
- state of depression;
- excessive consumption of sweets;
- disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
- liver pathologies;
- toxic effects of pesticides, gaseous chemicals;
- smoking cessation period;
- diabetes with a slight increase in blood glucose levels, a latent form of the disease;
- pathologies of the maxillofacial system, which are accompanied by purulent processes - gum disease, caries, periostitis, gumboils and abscesses.
Before contacting a doctor, you should analyze the factors that contribute to the appearance of a sour taste in the mouth.
Causes of sweet taste in mouth
Poor nutrition
The most common causes of a sweetish taste in the mouth are chronic overeating, abuse of simple carbohydrates and fatty foods.
As a result, carbohydrates are intensively broken down into glucose, the penetration of which into saliva causes the sensation of sweetness. An obsessive unpleasant taste often bothers you in the evening. You can get rid of it by brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth. A sweet taste is often found in people following a low-carbohydrate diet for a long time. The feeling of sweetness is caused by the intensive breakdown of fatty acids for the body's energy needs, which produces ketone bodies and other chemical compounds that have a sweetish taste. The symptom bothers the patient constantly. It is accompanied by general weakness, decreased muscle strength, and regular severe headaches.
To give up smoking
A common cause of a sweet taste in the mouth in men is disruption of the taste buds due to smoking cessation. Periodically, there is a cloying sweetish sensation in the mouth that is not associated with food. The symptom is most pronounced in the first months of getting rid of a bad habit, then the functioning of the taste apparatus returns to normal. The symptom is aggravated by constantly sucking lozenges, which is often done by smokers during the period of quitting cigarettes.
Stress
An increase in the concentration of first adrenaline and then corticosteroids in response to a psycho-emotional shock contributes to an increase in glucose levels in the blood and, consequently, in saliva. This is perceived by the patient as a feeling of sweetness in the mouth. Taste discomfort may be accompanied by thirst, dry mucous membranes, fear, anxiety, and muscle tremors.
The condition is more pronounced at night, decreases or temporarily stops after drinking large quantities of ordinary water and completely normalizes on its own after the end of the traumatic situation. Less commonly, stress glycogeusia persists for longer than 6-8 days and serves as one of the possible signs of developing depression or emerging neurosis.
Diabetes
Complaints about the periodic occurrence of a sweet taste without an obvious reason are a typical sign of impaired carbohydrate metabolism and incipient diabetes. Patients complain of severe dryness in the oral cavity, against the background of which an unpleasant sweetish taste sensation appears. Also characterized by a strong feeling of thirst, increased appetite and an increase in the amount of daily urine.
A feeling of sweetness in the mouth, accompanied by increasing malaise and headache, indicates the risk of developing ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes mellitus in which the formation of toxic compounds occurs. At first, patients feel a sweet taste, then it changes to a bitter taste, and the smell of acetone is felt from the mouth. This condition is an indication for emergency medical care.
Pregnancy
During a normal pregnancy, women often experience atypical taste sensations that are not associated with food intake. The sweetish taste appears at any time of the day. It is often enhanced by the use of vitamin complexes and other supplements that doctors prescribe for pregnant women. With toxicosis, an unpleasant taste aggravates nausea and provokes vomiting.
In pregnant women, a sweet taste in the mouth can also be caused by pathological reasons; most often it is caused by the development of gestational diabetes. The symptom is determined in the second half of pregnancy. Unpleasant taste sensations persist throughout the day. Pregnant women also notice increased thirst and an excessive increase in appetite, while their body weight increases slightly.
Pancreatitis
Complaints of a sweetish taste in the morning or during long breaks between meals are characteristic of damage to the pancreas. The disorder bothers patients most when waking up; after breakfast, the unpleasant feeling disappears. Also with pancreatitis, periodic pain in the left hypochondrium, nausea and heaviness in the abdomen are observed. Sometimes vomiting occurs, after which the sickly sweet taste in the mouth intensifies.
Gastrointestinal diseases
The symptom is detected in hyperacid conditions (gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease), which are accompanied by periodic reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and oral cavity. The sweetest taste is most pronounced after bending the body, intense physical activity, or prolonged stay in a horizontal position. The unpleasant feeling decreases after brushing your teeth, but does not disappear completely.
Purulent processes in the mouth
Gingivitis, stomatitis, deep caries with the addition of bacterial flora are accompanied by the formation of pus, which, accumulating in the spaces between the teeth and gum pockets, causes an irritating sweet taste in the mouth. The symptom is more pronounced in the morning. With insufficient oral hygiene, it is periodically observed throughout the day. In addition to the taste, patients are concerned about toothache that occurs spontaneously or occurs while eating.
ENT diseases
Chronic infectious processes in the paranasal sinuses or tonsils, caused by staphylococci, streptococci or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, provoke a sweetish taste. Patients with chronic tonsillitis and sinusitis note that taste discomfort does not have any visible cause and disappears after rinsing the mouth with water or eating food. The symptom often develops in the morning, when during night sleep the purulent contents of the nasal cavity drain into the pharynx.
Neurological disorders
In case of traumatic brain injury or brain damage due to intoxication, the nuclei of the cranial nerves responsible for the formation of taste sensations are involved in the pathological process. At the same time, patients lose the ability to distinguish the tastes of food and often feel a monotonous sweetish taste in the mouth for no reason. Taste disorder is combined with salivation disorders and swallowing disorders.
Rare causes
- Chemical poisoning
: pesticides, phosphorus-containing toxic substances (phosgene, etc.). - Oncopathology
: lung cancer, malignant bronchial neoplasia. - Complication of chemotherapy
.
Acid and bitterness
A bitter taste indicates a disruption of the liver and bile ducts. It may appear occasionally, but may bother you regularly.
Possible causes of a bitter-sour aftertaste:
- significant errors in nutrition - the liver is simply not able to cope with so many fatty, heavy, spicy foods, alcoholic drinks;
- alcoholism - the liver suffers first;
- treatment with aggressive drugs - a long course of antibiotics, antihistamines, and other medications;
- those who like to smoke a cigarette at night.
If we consider bitterness in the oral cavity in terms of the intended diagnosis, then most often it is cholecystopancreatitis, erosion of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, gastritis.
Treatment
Information on how to reduce stomach acidity should be obtained from a gastroenterologist. Any options for self-medication at home using improvised means are not only ineffective, but can also lead to the development of complications. For symptoms of gastritis with high acidity, diet and treatment include exclusion from the diet of fried and fatty foods, smoked meats, fast food, alcohol, canned meat, fish and vegetables, spices, seasonings, and sauces. You should eat in small portions, 4-5 times a day. Dishes must be prepared mainly by steaming or boiling. In case of increased acidity of the stomach, diet No. 1 according to Pevzner is prescribed.
For symptoms of gastritis with low acidity, treatment and diet include recipes for dishes that stimulate the acid-forming function of the stomach.
To treat high stomach acidity, traditional medicine uses the following groups of pharmaceuticals:
- Antibacterial drugs that are effective for hyperacid gastritis caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
- Enveloping agents.
- Proton pump inhibitors.
- Antacids.
- H2 histamine blockers.
- Bismuth preparations.
To maintain normal gastric acidity, it is important to maintain a balance of normal gastric microflora. For this purpose, it is recommended to use metaprebiotics, which contain a natural nutrient substrate for gastric and intestinal bacteria. Metaprebiotic Stimbifid Plus helps not only restore the balance of normal gastric and intestinal microbiota, but also promotes the eradication (destruction) of Helicobacter pylori. Also, metaprebiotic components accelerate the process of restoration of the gastric epithelium.
Metal
The reason may be unhealthy teeth or gums.
A metallic taste in the mouth can be caused by metal crowns or fragments of dentures. In this case, you should discuss with your dentist the issue of replacing them. When making a diagnosis, exclude:
- diseases of the periodontium and maxillofacial system with obvious signs of a purulent process;
- bleeding from the gums;
- poisoning with salts of heavy metals - such taste sensations are caused by mercury, zinc, arsenic, copper;
- diabetes mellitus in the stage of decompensation with a slight change in blood sugar levels;
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- chronic bleeding due to stomach ulcers;
- hormonal disorders;
- taking certain medications. The appearance of such sensations is facilitated by drugs from the NSAID group and anticonvulsants. When the drug is discontinued, the metallic taste disappears on its own.
How is diagnostics carried out?
Only an accurate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. For this purpose, you may have to visit several specialists: a therapist, a dentist, a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist, and a gynecologist. The child must first be shown to a pediatrician.
Each of the listed reasons has its own method of diagnosis and elimination. In addition to collecting anamnesis and visual examination of the mouth, neck and head, doctors may prescribe the following studies:
- blood and urine tests;
- Ultrasound;
- FGDS;
- X-ray with HF;
- CT or MRI.
Various tests are also carried out to evaluate taste sensations.
Acid and milk
Sour taste is common during pregnancy
This is a rare sensation, since in normal conditions it is caused only by the consumption of fermented milk products. When such an aftertaste appears, one can assume:
- chronic stress;
- infection with intestinal parasites;
- various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Outside of food intake, a sour milk taste in the mouth appears along with additional symptoms. This is a reason to contact a medical institution as soon as possible.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is known to be a natural healing agent and also fights acid reflux in addition. This remedy is available as a live plant, but sometimes the leaves and liquid form of Aloe Vera are sold separately in grocery and health food stores. Aloe vera is used in formulations as a thickener or as a means to set liquids.
Sour taste in pregnant women
The appearance of such an unpleasant aftertaste in a pregnant woman is facilitated by 2 metabolic processes associated with the process of bearing offspring.
You can thank for the acid in your mouth:
- The hormone progesterone. This is a necessary condition for pregnancy. This substance helps relax muscle tissue, preventing the development of fetal rejection. Ideally, it should act only on the muscles of the uterus. But in reality, all smooth muscles relax, including the muscles of the stomach and esophagus.
- The growing uterus puts pressure on the hollow organs. There is a reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and oral cavity. The result is heartburn and an acidic taste in the mouth.
In this case, taking an antacid is indicated at the discretion of the gynecologist. But first you should exclude diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug of choice can be Gaviscon in any convenient form.
Diagnostics
If an atypical taste is occasionally or constantly felt in the mouth, consultation with a gastroenterologist is required. The symptom is caused by various reasons, therefore, before laboratory and instrumental examination, you should carefully collect anamnesis and accompanying complaints. The greatest diagnostic value is:
- Blood tests
. A standard blood chemistry test reveals the accumulation of ammonia and ketone bodies, which often cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Clinical analysis can detect a decrease in hemoglobin, changes in the size and shape of red blood cells, which is characteristic of anemia. If necessary, toxicological analysis is carried out. - Hormonal profile
. If patients complain of a sweetish sensation in the mouth, fasting sugar levels are measured. The results of an oral glucose tolerance test are indicative. To clarify the form of diabetes, the concentration of insulin and C-peptide is taken into account. If glucose levels are normal, it is recommended to determine the level of thyroid hormones. - ENT examination
. During the study, the condition of the mouth, throat, and nasal passages is examined. Frequent findings are signs of chronic inflammation, purulent or whitish deposits on the mucous membrane. Bloody crusts are sometimes found in the nose. If carious teeth or bleeding gums are detected, a person is referred to a dentist. - Endoscopy
. The causes of unusual taste sensations, which are combined with abdominal pain and painful heartburn, are diagnosed using FGDS. During endoscopy, inflammatory and destructive processes in the gastric mucosa, insufficiency of the cardiac sphincter with the flow of acidic contents into the esophagus are visualized. - X-ray imaging
. To exclude ENT causes of a persistent unpleasant taste in the mouth, an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses is performed. Excretory urography is indicated for patients with swelling, lower back pain and other signs of kidney damage. To study the condition of the intestines, a barium passage x-ray is prescribed. - Additional methods
. In women, levels of sex hormones must be examined; in young patients, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin is additionally assessed to confirm or exclude pregnancy. If lung cancer is suspected, especially in men with a long history of smoking, bronchoscopy with collection of material for cytomorphological analysis is required.
If you have an unpleasant taste in your mouth, it is important to maintain oral hygiene
Excess salt on the menu
A similar symptom may appear when we eat excessively salty foods. For a long time now, scientists, doctors, as well as adherents of a healthy lifestyle have noted that salt in large quantities is dangerous for the human body. And its main danger is the load on the cardiovascular system, urinary system, and kidneys. It also increases blood pressure. Therefore, to some extent, modification of diets can lead to the fact that taste perception is restored and excess salt begins to be felt.
