Metal Taste or Terrible Taste

 Occasionally we all awaken with a horrible taste in our mouth. But if your toothbrush and mouthwash fail to slay that "dragon mouth" and it sometimes gets worse during the day, it may be a sign of PHANTOM TASTE or PHANTOGEUSIA, the most common taste complaint. People with this condition taste things that are not there.

Phantom tastes can be a sign of Bell's Palsy and of Burning Mouth Syndrome (burning tongue syndrome), a rare condition that tends to affect menopausal women and is thought to be caused by nerve damage. It can signal a viral infection and Sjogren's Syndrome as well.

Most people with phantogeusia complain of having a metallic taste in their mouths, aptly known as Metallic Phantogeusia. This can be a reaction to certain medications, including antibiotics, antidepressants, antihypertensives, drugs used to treat kidney stones and rheumatoid arthritis, and some vitamins. It is also a common result of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. A metallic taste signals to some epileptics that a seizure may be coming on.

If your taste in music leans more toward heavy metal than light rock, the metallic taste may be an unexpected result of another one of the latest trends which is the tongue peircing with a small metal barbell. It can also be a tip-off that your tongue or your gums or your nose is bleeding. the iron in your blood gives off a metallic taste.

A metallic taste can be a warning sign that old metal dental fillings may be leaching into your mouth and it is time to get new ones. If your cavities are filled with several different metals (as many of them are a combination of mercury, silver, and others) it is like having a mini battery in your mouth. The mixed metals create a chemical or electrical reaction that produces a metallic taste, or even a shock. The tinny taste can also signal dry mouth or that you are on an excessively high protein, low fat diet.



The older you are, the more insensitive you are to taste: foods need to be 3 times sweeter, 4 times more sour, 7 times more bitter, and 11 times more salty for you to taste than when you were younger.