Table of contents:
- Various causes of mouth feels metallic that you need to know
- 1. Drug side effects
- 2. Periodontitis or gingivitis
- 3. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- 4. There is a problem or disorder in the sinuses
- 5. Pregnancy
- 6. Gastric acid reflux
Have you ever felt a mouth sensation like you are chewing a coin or metal? Yes, this condition is also called parageusia or the mouth feels metal. Your tongue is controlled by sensory nerves present in the tongue papillae (sense of taste) and in your nose. When parageusia occurs, nerve endings send a "metallic taste" information to your brain.
Various causes of mouth feels metallic that you need to know
There are several things that can cause or cause your tongue to feel metallic, including:
1. Drug side effects
Taste disturbances on the tongue can occur due to the side effects of certain drugs, including:
- Antibiotics such as clarithromycin, tetracyclines, or metronidazole
- Blood pressure medications such as captopril
- Glaucoma medications, such as methazolamide
- Antidepressants such as lithium
- Kidney stone or uric acid medications such as allopurinol
Apart from containing metals, these drugs also cause dry mouth symptoms that can interfere with appetite.
2. Periodontitis or gingivitis
Brushing your teeth rarely can cause bad breath and cavities. Over time, you can get gingivitis and periodontitis, which are inflammation and infection of the gums.
This condition can block blood flow to the tongue. As a result, the production of saliva is hampered and of course the sense of taste decreases its ability and causes a metallic taste in the mouth.
3. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Both treatments for cancer can alter your sense of taste. This occurs when cancer drugs are injected into the bloodstream and affect the saliva that is produced.
Studies show that vitamin D or zinc supplements can help prevent taste distortion in cancer patients during therapy.
4. There is a problem or disorder in the sinuses
The sense of taste is directly related to the sense of smell. When the mouth feels metallic, there could be a problem with the sinuses, which are the air spaces in the nose. Blocked, infected, or swollen sinuses can impair saliva flow, which can lead to parageusia. Some of the conditions that can irritate the sinuses include:
- Flu or cold
- Sinusitis
- Allergy
- Other respiratory infections
5. Pregnancy
Apart from nausea and vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth is also common in pregnant women. The cause is not known with certainty, but many argue that this condition is related to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
6. Gastric acid reflux
The hot taste of rising stomach acid can reach the mouth. This stomach acid can interfere with the receptors on the tongue and nose, creating a metallic smell and taste in the mouth.
