Why Has My Taste Changed Suddenly?
Why Has My Taste Changed Suddenly?: Do you ever take out some time while eating and think about how a particular food tastes? Well, usually, we may or may not. But, we all do that when we realize that the food is not tasting the way it should. Well, I would hope you don’t relate to it, but if you do, then you should know that it is not something very uncommon.
It is most likely a disorder called dysgeusia which alters your sense of taste. If you’re suffering from this, that cupcake might not taste sweet to you anymore. While dysgeusia is not a problem in itself, it’s mostly a consequence of some other health issue. It can be caused due to different underlying reasons which we will be looking at in later sections.
Prior to that, it is important to understand the symptoms of dysgeusia and how one can recognize it.
Symptoms of Dysgeusia
Going by the definition, the first thing that would happen in dysgeusia is a change of taste. The taste buds may not function very well and one may not be able to feel the actual taste of a particular food. You might find that the food has lost its sweetness or saltiness. Apart from this core recognizing factor, there are several other symptoms of dysgeusia.
● Most of the food starts to taste sour, metallic, rotten, or bitter.
● Some people can also have burning mouth syndrome which means that they may feel a burning and painful sensation in their mouth.
● There can be a presence of some kind of taste in your mouth all the time even without eating anything.
● You might start disliking the food you loved while enjoying the food you disliked.
These are some of the most common symptoms of dysgeusia but it can vary from person to person. While some people may feel only one of these symptoms, others may go through all of it.
Why Has My Taste Changed Suddenly?
As mentioned before, there can be several causes of dysgeusia. And, the most common cause is losing a sense of smell. Smell and taste are closely associated with each other, so when there’s a problem with the former, there’s a disturbance in the latter too. Apart from this, there can be various other reasons as well.
Infection
If you are suffering from a bacterial, fungal or viral infection of the gums, teeth, throat or mouth, it leads to further issues. For instance, it can lead to inflammation, reduction of blood flow to the taste buds, and so on, which in return can alter your sense of taste.
Deficiency of Vitamins or Minerals
If your body lacks vitamins like B12 or minerals like Zinc, it can also lead to a loss of taste. However, this problem can be solved with supplements.
Medication
This is something a lot of people might be able to relate to. Alteration in taste or the constant presence of an unpleasant taste in your mouth can often be caused as a side effect of certain medicines. While not all medications will have this effect, a lot of them might do. Genetic disorders can also increase it further.
Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic disorders like diabetes or kidney diseases can also interfere with your usual sense of taste. However, once the particular health issue is resolved, the taste buds will eventually go back to functioning the way they do.
Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders often disturb each or all the six senses of a person including taste. For example, neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis frequently lower the sense of taste in patients.
Tobacco
Well, if you’re a foodie, you have one more solid reason to avoid tobacco. The chemical used in manufacturing tobacco is harmful for the tongue and throat. As a consequence, it also hampers your sense of taste.
Aging
As you age, the sense of smell and taste starts getting reduced more and more. However, it also depends on the individual. While some may feel a complete loss of taste, some might feel no change at all.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is yet another cause of alteration in senses like smell and taste. This is usually because of a sudden change in hormones. However, it usually occurs only in the initial months of pregnancy and goes away on its own later.
Why Has My Taste Changed Suddenly?
Diagnosis of Dysgeusia
If you feel that there’s something wrong with your sense of taste and it continues for a while, then you must go see a doctor as soon as possible. This is because it can be due to various underlying reasons and it is important to recognize that reason within time. You never know, it might be a symptom for something very serious. So, better safe than sorry!
Once you explain the issue to the doctor, the first thing s/he might do is determine whether your dysgeusia is associated with lack of sense of smell or if there’s some other reason. The doctor can also ask you to go through few blood tests to check if the dysgeusia is occurring due to nutritional deficiencies.
Treatment and Cure
The first step to cure dysgeusia starts with understanding the cause behind it. If you can solve the underlying issue, this will automatically be solved. For instance, if it’s caused due to smoking, leaving cigarettes would have a positive impact. Similarly, if you’re low on any essential nutrients, the supplements would help you to get your nutrition and your taste back.
Besides that, if it’s too unbearable, there are a few little things you can try. Try to consume food with a minimal amount of ingredients. It would make it easier for you to identify the taste. Also, it would help you to determine what suits your taste for the time being. Moreover, try not to consume anything on the extreme end like something too spicy or too sweet.
Dysgeusia usually goes away on its own, so there’s no need to specifically worry about it. However, it is important to understand that it might not go away in some cases. For example, Alzheimer’s disease and aging are something that cannot be avoided. And, if these are the kind of reasons behind your dysgeusia, it can only be managed and minimised and cannot be resolved.
Precautionary Measures
There is no absolute way to stop dysgeusia in advance but here are a few measures you can take to avoid it.
Oral Hygiene
Well, the cleanliness of taste receptors and nearby areas are of utmost importance when it comes to maintaining a good sense of taste. Therefore, it is important to have good oral hygiene if you want to keep enjoying your meals.
Avoiding Tobacco
Since tobacco can be a major cause of dysgeusia, it is better to avoid it from the beginning. So, if you’re into smoking, the earlier you leave the better.
Checking Medication
As discussed earlier, medications can also be a reason for dysgeusia. If you’re on medication and if you feel that it might be hindering your sense of taste, then you can discuss it with your healthcare provider. He or she might prescribe you some alternate medicines.
Balanced Diet
Considering that nutrition deficiency triggers dysgeusia, it would be great if you can ensure that you maintain a proper diet and have nutritious food.
