An unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, appearing for no apparent reason, quite often indicates a possible pathology. However, not always a similar symptom indicates the presence of any disease. Particular attention must be paid to the nature of the symptom and its duration. If this discomfort does not go away within a few months, this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
What is accompanied by?
Quite often, an unpleasant taste in the mouth is accompanied by gastroesophageal reflux, sinusitis, and infectious diseases of the salivary gland. In addition, the reason for the appearance of such a condition may be poor compliance with the rules of oral hygiene, as well as taking certain medications. Most often, the taste is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, which affects the quality of human life.
The causes of the disease
A taste in the mouth can be a sign of an inflammatory process or an infectious disease of the sinuses of the nose, upper respiratory tract, tongue and oral cavity, that is, be a symptom of a variety of pathologies in the human body. An unpleasant taste may indicate a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The smack appears most often with the following pathologies:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- Esophagitis.
- Peptic ulcer.
- Flatulence.
In addition, the following factors can provoke the appearance of a taste in the mouth:
- Dehydration.
- Infections and pathogens.
- Various drugs.
- Erosion of the oral cavity.
- Failure to comply with the rules of oral hygiene.
- Pathological processes in the sinuses of the nose.
- Sjogren's syndrome.
- Smoking.
- Oncological neoplasms.
- Viruses.
Serious pathology
There are also more serious pathologies that can cause a taste in the mouth. If such a phenomenon is observed regularly and for a long time, you should consult a doctor, as this may indicate the development of diseases such as:
- Severe infection.
- Stroke.
- Cancer of the oral cavity.
Often an unpleasant taste appears in a woman during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that there is an active production of the hormone, which rebuilds the body under its new condition.
Consider below the main causes of taste in the mouth in more detail.
Associated symptoms
An unpleasant, strange taste in the mouth is an alarming symptom and may indicate the presence of pathology in the human body. As a rule, this symptom does not manifest itself as an independent symptom, but is accompanied by certain concomitant phenomena.
If the patient has a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, it tends to spread to other organs. To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to pay attention to other symptoms, for example:
- Flatulence.
- Soreness in the stomach.
- Heartburn.
- Cough.
- Violation of intestinal motility.
Salivary Gland Problems
With problems with the salivary glands, the course of the disease is somewhat different. In this case, the person notes the following symptoms:
- Dry mucous membrane.
- Difficult mouth opening.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Pain in the face and mouth.
- Redness on the neck and face.
- Swelling of the face and neck.
Diseases of the nose and sinuses
Diseases of the nose and sinuses also have specific symptoms. For such pathologies, such manifestations as are typical:
- Elevated body temperature.
- Fatigue.
- Nasal congestion.
- Tonsillitis.
- Unpleasant sensations in the throat.
In serious diseases, symptoms are more pronounced and more intense. With a stroke, cancer of the mouth and a severe infection, in addition to an unpleasant taste, other symptoms may appear:
- Abrupt and unreasonable weight loss.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Depressed breathing.
- Loss of sensory organs, namely hearing, sight and smell.
Why there is a taste in the mouth, the doctor should understand.
Classification
There are several main varieties of unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. It can be sour, bitter, sweet, salty, purulent, chemical and metallic. Each of them indicates certain diseases. Let's consider them in more detail.
Sour taste in the mouth
Quite often, it is not a sign of pathology. It can appear when eating an acidic product and be the result of an aftertaste. You can get rid of this condition by rinsing your mouth with clean water and washing off the remnants of food from the tongue.
The cause of acidic taste in the mouth can also be the oxidation of established crowns and prostheses. This can happen as a result of using low-quality materials during prosthetics. Prolonged wearing of base materials in the mouth leads to damage by saliva, food and metabolism, as well as bacteria.
Medicine also describes cases where a sour milk taste was the result of problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Diseases of the stomach and esophagus can provoke a symptom, for example:
- Peptic ulcer.
- Gastritis.
- Diaphragmatic hernia.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Digestive upsets lead to serious changes in the body. In addition to the fermented milk taste in the mouth, the patient appears: weakness, nausea, belching, fatigue. As well as pain in the abdomen.
What else is an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth?
Bitter aftertaste
Almost everyone has a bitter taste in their mouths at least once in their lives. This is a fairly common occurrence. This symptom may indicate pathology of the gallbladder and liver, as well as diseases of the esophagus and intestines. Exacerbation can occur with the following diseases:
- Intoxication.
- Cholelithiasis.
- State of stress.
- Taking certain medications.
Symptoms usually worsen after a person has eaten, in some cases they occur in the morning. If bitterness in the mouth appears regularly, you need to consult a specialist to identify the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Purulent aftertaste
Most often, a purulent taste appears in the mouth with a palatine abscess. Medicine records this symptom with the following dental pathologies:
- Alveolitis.
- Periodontitis.
- Periodontitis
The taste of pus may appear not only in the mouth, but also in the throat. Such diseases of bacterial origin, such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, adenoids, can provoke the formation of ulcers.
What else can cause a taste of blood in your mouth?
- It can provoke injuries of the mucous membrane - if the saliva turns red, you need to conduct a thorough examination of the oral cavity. Damage to the mucous membrane can cause a bite on the inside of the cheek or tongue.
- Dental diseases are the most common cause of blood in the mouth. It can be gingivitis, stomatitis, periodontitis or any other ailments that cause inflammation.
- Taking certain medications - antibiotics, antihistamines, iron supplements and vitamins - causes a metallic taste, which is often confused with the taste of blood.
- Heavy metal poisoning - mercury, lead, copper or zinc.
- Severe pathologies of the internal organs - pneumonia, tuberculosis and malignant neoplasms of the respiratory tract. Streaks of blood or fresh blood occur in patients' saliva when coughing, after emotional or physical stress.
Salty aftertaste
Quite often, a salty taste in the mouth can occur against the background of non-compliance with the rules of oral hygiene and teeth. Along with other signs, this may indicate various pathologies in the body, such as:
- Impaired kidney function.
- Sinusitis and sinusitis.
- Infectious diseases of the salivary glands.
- Taking drugs aimed at treating bacterial infections.
- Regular dehydration.
Sweet taste in the mouth
A taste appears after a person has eaten something sweet, which is logical and normal. This phenomenon is considered pathological if the sweet taste appears after a person has eaten something salty or spicy. A similar sign is characteristic of the following diseases:
- Chemical poisoning.
- Poor insulin synthesis and impaired carbohydrate metabolism, characteristic of diabetes.
- Violation of nerve endings.
- Smoking.
- Stressful situations.
- Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract and various dental pathologies.
Smack of soda
This symptom may indicate a malfunction of the biliary tract and liver. In addition, the taste of soda in the mouth indicates pathologies in the work of the intestine. If the taste of soda is combined with sweet, this indicates an exacerbation of diabetes.
The reasons for the taste in the mouth of women are presented below.
Other factors that can lead to the appearance of a soda flavor are: pregnancy, overeating, taking certain medications, the use of hormonal medications, etc. With an excess of iodine, a characteristic aftertaste also appears in the body. Usually this condition is accompanied by vomiting and fever.
What does the taste of iron in the mouth mean?
Metallic aftertaste
This is a fairly common phenomenon, the causes of which can be very diverse. Often, a metallic taste in the mouth appears when drinking a large amount of mineral water, which includes iron. The same goes for drinking untreated tap water. If eaten from metal utensils, a specific aftertaste may also appear. However, the most common factor leading to this symptom is taking certain medications.
Crowns on teeth can also give a feeling of metal or plastic in the mouth. If you do not follow the hygienic rules when wearing dentures, then you can also experience bad taste and bad breath.
A metallic taste can occur for less harmless reasons. There are a number of pathologies that can lead to this condition:
- Violation of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Anemia.
- Hypovitaminosis.
- Diseases of the oral cavity.
In this case, to eliminate the symptom, it is necessary to cure the cause of its appearance.
Smack
Aspergillosis may be the cause of a moldy taste in the mouth. This disease of an infectious nature affects the lungs, skin, sinuses, etc. The fungus is able to spread not only in food, but also in uncleaned, dusty rooms. With the disease, a wet cough, general malaise, shortness of breath, chills, loss of appetite and sleep disturbance can occur.
To prevent the appearance of taste in the mouth, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene in general and the oral cavity, in particular. If the aftertaste is constant and its severity increases, you must consult a doctor.