A metallic halitosis may occur after eating food cooked in aluminum cookware or because of the high iron content in the food. If these factors are excluded, then this may indicate the development of a dangerous pathology in the body. Whatever the causes of the metallic smell from the mouth, one should consult a specialist when it appears, because even if this was a result of improper cooking, such a situation will not lead to anything good.
Bad breath as a symptom of a disease
Ever since the time of Hippocrates, when examining a patient, a doctor paid attention to bad breath and could only make a diagnosis based on this symptom. After all, in this place of a person, the mucous membrane is very thin and the blood vessels pass close to the surface. Metal halitosis occurs due to diseases of the gums, teeth and oral mucosa. In addition, the esophagus and respiratory tract enter the mouth. By the smell from the mouth, one can judge the condition of the stomach, liver and lungs, not to mention systemic diseases - anemia, a tumor of the thyroid gland, stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer, cholecystitis.
It happens that an adult's metallic breath is a one-off phenomenon that occurs, for example, under the influence of a medicine or a new denture in the mouth. In this case, there is nothing to worry about. If the metallic smell in the mouth has become permanent, then this means that it is necessary to undergo a full examination by a doctor.
Oral diseases
If there is a metallic odor from the mouth, then the reason for it, first of all, is sought just in the mouth. Various symptoms of mucous membranes, gums and teeth can lead to this symptom.
Inflammation of the gums, namely periodontitis and gingivitis, are accompanied by bleeding, which gives a metallic taste in the mouth and the smell of blood. Similar symptoms occur with stomatitis. After all, small ulcers on the mucous membrane can also bleed. Deep caries leads to pulpitis, which often causes bleeding from the tooth. True, there is a putrefactive odor.
A characteristic smack of iron gives such a thing as galvonism. It occurs in people with installed dentures that have metal parts in their design. The galvanic current arising under the influence of saliva is manifested by dry mouth, pain in the gums and tongue, loss of ability to recognize tastes, as well as frequent headaches. In this case, the treatment is obvious - it is necessary to replace the prosthesis.
As for the remaining diseases, a dentist will help to cope with them.
Gastrointestinal diseases
The causes of metallic halitosis in an adult can be due to problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This can be a peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, gastritis, or even dysbiosis, when the intestinal microflora is disturbed. Inflammation of the gallbladder and liver pathology can cause a failure of the entire digestive system.
A metallic taste in the mouth is not the only symptom, usually such diseases are accompanied by acute pain in the stomach, weakness, nausea, and stool disturbance. A gastroenterologist can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment in this situation.
Hypovitaminosis
Violations of the level of trace elements in the human body is called hypovitaminosis. It is also capable of causing halitosis. This condition is accompanied by other symptoms that help diagnose it: weakness in the extremities, fatigue, sleep disturbance, mental disorder, memory problems and brain performance.
Hypovitaminosis is the main cause of the metallic bad breath in a child, since during the period of intensive growth of the body, the level of one or another element in the blood is often disturbed.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a violation of the assimilation of glucose by the cells of the body, which eventually accumulates in the blood, causing the destruction of the walls of blood vessels in all internal organs and skin integuments.
It is this manifestation of diabetes that can cause a taste of blood in the mouth. That is, the thinnest vessels of the mucous membrane of the mouth and gums burst and bleed. Symptoms of diabetes include persistent thirst and long, non-healing wounds. If a person has all these manifestations at once, he needs to urgently undergo a medical examination and get a referral for treatment. Otherwise, it may result in a diabetic coma and death.
Oncological disease
Often, a malignant tumor developing in the body gives the smell of iron from the mouth. It is clear that there are other symptoms, general malaise, weakness, impaired appetite and a number of specific symptoms. In this situation, the sooner it is possible to diagnose the disease, the more a positive prognosis awaits the patient. That is why it is recommended that you immediately consult a doctor if you have a taste of blood in your mouth.
Non-Disease Causes
It happens that a completely healthy person has a metallic taste in his mouth. The reason for this may be heavy metal poisoning in the workplace, dehydration, addiction to dietary supplements, or vitamin intake.
In this case, the person himself is able to identify the etiology if he traces the causal relationship of being, for example, in the shop of a paint and varnish factory with the appearance of a metallic aftertaste in his mouth. You just need to be more attentive to your body and not abuse dietary supplements.
Also, we must not forget that metal ions can penetrate the body through the skin, so the taste of iron in the mouth can appear as a result of constant contact of the skin with iron, for example, as a result of working with it or when it is carried away with metal jewelry such as chains and bracelets.
The taste of metal may appear as a result of eating it. It penetrates from old pipes with water or from metal utensils. To identify this reason, it is enough to let the tap water stand in the glass for several hours and see if a precipitate has formed at the bottom. And it is better to refuse metal utensils altogether.
Smell of iron from the mouth during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the woman’s body is completely rebuilt, preparing for bearing and subsequent childbirth. Internal metabolism often leads to disruption of iron levels, which accordingly causes bad breath. This usually occurs in the first months of pregnancy.
Lack of iron and calcium, in turn, leads to dental diseases, periodontal disease, caries and so on. This necessarily affects the purity of breathing and bad breath.
That is why a pregnant woman throughout the entire period should regularly take tests for the level of necessary trace elements in the blood, in order to prevent their shortage.
Treatment principles
You can get rid of bad breath only by eliminating the cause of its appearance. If this occurs as a result of diseases of the stomach or liver, you need to undergo a course of treatment with a gastroenterologist. If the cause of the unpleasant aftertaste was a disease of the teeth and gums, then you need to consult a dentist. It is best to start visiting a therapist, he will be able to discover the primary cause and send for examination to a narrower specialist. For example, a pediatrician determines the causes of a metallic breath in a child, and a gynecologist determines a pregnant woman.
A quick way to get rid of the taste of metal in your mouth
It is clear that an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth will pass after appropriate treatment, but nothing prevents a person from taking measures to get rid of him while treatment is in progress.
To do this, you can rinse your mouth with lemon juice 2 times a day or just eat a few slices of lemon for breakfast and dinner. This, by the way, is very beneficial for the kidneys and the immune system.
During the day, you can put a little ginger, cinnamon or cardamom in your mouth. Sweet candies help to get rid of the smack of iron, but with bad teeth this method is better not to use. Oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and tomatoes should be present in the human diet. They permanently eliminate the taste of blood in the mouth.
Prevention of iron aftertaste
In order to reduce the likelihood of the appearance in the body of conditions accompanied by the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth, it is necessary to take care of prevention:
- You need to pay more attention to the condition of the oral cavity. Teeth should be cleaned regularly using silk thread to clean the interdental space. After eating, you must rinse your mouth.
- Cooking and eating is only necessary from ceramic or glassware.
- Tap water is best not to drink at all. It must be filtered. In most cities, water pipes do not change for many decades. Naturally, water containing iron oxide and a mass of other impurities now flows through them.
- You need to include citrus fruits and nuts in your diet. They strengthen the immune system and avoid many diseases that cause bad breath.
- During pregnancy, a woman should regularly see her doctor and go through all the tests that he prescribes. This will allow you to track the progress of the child’s development and the condition of the mother, and prevent many fetal defects caused by metabolic disorders. For example, with a lack of iron in the fetus, anemia may develop and the hematopoietic function of the body may be impaired.
- Young children should also be regularly examined by a pediatrician, as they have a very high growth rate of the body and metabolism.
- Adults should also be examined at least 2 times a year by a doctor with a mandatory ultrasound examination of the internal organs and blood tests for biochemistry. This will allow you to identify developing pathologies at the very beginning and easily cure them.
Metal halitosis can talk about various problems of the body. To identify the causes, it is better to consult a specialist.