The metallic taste in the mouth due to chemotherapy, here's how to fix it

Chemotherapy is one of the most common cancer treatments to kill cancer cells in the body. But there is no denying that chemotherapy can bring about a variety of unpleasant side effects. One of them is a metallic taste in the mouth. This chemotherapy side effect often causes your appetite to decrease because all the food and drink you consume tastes bad, even tastes like metal. Then, how to solve it?

Tips for dealing with the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth due to the side effects of chemotherapy

Some chemo drugs such as vincristine, cisplatin, and cyclophosphamide can cause a metallic taste in the mouth. This can make your appetite and body weight decrease. In the end this will make your condition take longer to recover. Therefore, you must solve it immediately by doing the following:

• Avoid eating or drinking food 2-3 hours after chemotherapy is done.
• Try drinking water with lemon juice. This will help you relieve the strong metallic taste in your mouth. However, avoid drinking this if you have mouth sores.
• Use plastic or melamine utensils instead of metal.
• Eat foods high in spices. Spices enhance the taste of food, so they balance out the metallic taste that coats your mouth.
• Use additional seasonings such as sauces or soy sauce. This will also give your food a strong, dominant taste, thereby diffusing any metallic flavors that are in the crease.
• Eating mint candy between meals can help the metallic taste be less intense when you eat it later.
• Maintain oral hygiene by regularly brushing your teeth. You can also clean between your teeth with dental floss (flossing).
• Gargle with water mixed with baking soda, salt, or mouthwash before eating a food.
• You should also avoid certain types of food that can add a metallic taste in your mouth, such as red meat. Instead you can eat chicken instead of beef.

You can do these things to reduce the metallic taste in the mouth due to the side effects of chemotherapy. However, remember that everyone has different conditions and certainly require different treatment. You should also tell your doctor what symptoms and side effects you experience during chemotherapy.

Can I prevent a metallic taste in my mouth?

Unfortunately, there is currently no way to prevent the metallic taste in the mouth from appearing. However, in some cases this can be treated by giving an appetite enhancer.

Appetite enhancer drugs are sometimes given by doctors to cancer patients to help increase their food intake. However, not all patients will be given, to know whether you need it or not, you should discuss this with your doctor.