It’s easy to take your sense of taste for granted, despite the fact that it is something you use every day of your life. Here’s an interesting question: Do your taste buds and tongue play a greater role in the health of your mouth? Absolutely! If you notice a peculiar taste in your mouth, or that your taste has changed, it’s possible that an oral health problem is to blame.
Bad Taste and Oral Hygiene
If you do not follow the hygiene guidelines recommended by your dentist and the American Dental Association, this may be the underlying cause for your taste changes. Every day, brush your teeth twice and floss at least once. When food and bacteria are trapped on and around your teeth and tongue, smelly sulfur compounds are produced. Try using a tongue scraper to remove them from the surface of your tongue.
Gum Health and Your Sense of Taste
An unpleasant taste is one symptom of gum disease, which begins as an infection of the gums that can eventually cause your teeth to fall out. Some patients describe the taste as bitter, metallic, or sour. You may find that it goes away after you brush your teeth, but only for a few hours before it returns. Gum or mints may not solve the problem, at least not in the long run. Other symptoms include bad breath, bleeding gums, and gum tissue that looks puffy, red, and shiny.
Health Concerns and Taste Disorders
A number of health conditions, including several not related to the mouth, can interfere with your sense of taste. Also, medications used to treat these conditions may list taste changes as one of their side effects. Other medical problems that affect the ability to taste include radiation treatment for cancer, middle ear infections, respiratory infections, and head injuries. While the effect may be temporary, it may also be a necessary evil. Talk to your dentist for help coping with taste-related effects of your medications.
About Your Shrewsbury General Dentists
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-8838 today.
