Table of contents:
- Cause the mouth feels metallic during pregnancy
- Who is at risk for these symptoms?
- Tips for dealing with a metallic mouth during pregnancy
During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in the body. These hormonal changes cause symptoms that make most pregnant women uncomfortable, especially during the first trimester. Starting from nausea, body fatigue and pain, to experiencing changes in taste, namely the mouth feels metal. What causes the mouth to feel metallic during pregnancy and how can you deal with it? Check out the following reviews.
Cause the mouth feels metallic during pregnancy
Apart from morning sickness, aka nausea and vomiting, some other pregnant women may also feel metal in the mouth. This condition is known as dysgeusia or parageusia.
When you are pregnant, estrogen and progesterone levels increase to help the baby grow in the womb. Increased levels of this hormone can affect the body's sensory abilities, for example on the tongue.
When dysgeusia occurs, your mouth and tongue will feel:
- Metal smell
- Tasted salty
- Rancid, foul or burning smell
Who is at risk for these symptoms?
Studies show that dysgeusia is most severe in the first trimester and improves in the second. If not, it will most likely disappear after delivery. Not all pregnant women experience these symptoms during pregnancy. However, some pregnant women may be at risk for this condition if:
- Use additional vitamins or supplements
- Using drugs, either without or based on a doctor's prescription
- Runny nose or infection in the mouth, such as gingivitis
- Dry mouth
- Have diabetes
- Have kidney disease or liver disease
- Having cancer or undergoing cancer treatment
Parageusia that appears in pregnant women usually does not affect changes in the pregnant woman's appetite. However, it can cause food to taste bitter and unpleasant. If the mouth feels metallic during pregnancy followed by other disturbing symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Tips for dealing with a metallic mouth during pregnancy
Medically, there is no specific treatment that can get rid of the metallic taste in the mouth during pregnancy. Even so, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce symptoms, such as:
- Avoid food that is too hot. Prioritize eating foods that are cold, such as fruit or cold water.
- Relieve symptoms by chewing gum or sugarless candy
- Eat some saltine crackers to get rid of the metallic taste
- Add spices or a little spicy seasoning to get rid of the strange taste in the mouth
- Consult your doctor to change your medication, if the drug is indeed a trigger for dysgeusia
- Expand to eat sweet and sour fruits that can increase saliva production, such as oranges, grapes, green apples, or mangoes
- Choose non-metal cutlery, such as ceramic plates or bowls
- Use mouthwash to clean any strange odors that appear in your mouth
- Drink lots of water to deal with dry mouth, one of the triggers for the mouth to feel metallic during pregnancy
- Maintain oral hygiene by regularly brushing your teeth and tongue twice a day: after meals and before bed.
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