9 Causes (and How to Make It Happen).

I have a taste of iron in my mouth: is it serious, Doctor?

Yes, potentially. Because, know this:

Although rare, a metallic taste in the mouth is sometimes a sign of a serious illness.

Indeed, it can sometimes indicate problems with the kidneys, liver or diabetes.

And even some types of cancer.

But wait, before you panic, read on…

It’s very, very rare that these diseases are the cause.

And usually, when they do, they’re accompanied by a whole host of other symptoms.

So, if you are in fairly good health, rest assured.

That means the cause of the dysgeusia is probably harmless.

In other words :

If you ONLY taste iron in your mouth, there is nothing to worry about.

Now, let’s see together the 9 probable causes of an iron taste in the mouth.

1. Poor dental hygiene

Don’t brush your teeth regularly?

And you don’t know about dental floss either?

Be careful, you risk a tooth infection.

For example, gingivitis or periodontitis.

Fortunately, dental infections go away easily with proper treatment, prescribed by your dentist.

“Usually the metallic taste goes away as soon as the infection is treated,” says Dr. Robert.

2. Prescription drugs

“Certain medications are known to cause a metallic taste in the mouth,” says Dr. Robert.

“That’s because when the drug is absorbed by the body, part of it comes out in the saliva.”

Medications that give off this metallic aftertaste include:

– antibioticssuch as clarithromycin, metronidazole and tetracycline.

– allopurinola treatment for gout.

– medicines for blood pressure, including captopril.

– lithiumused in psychiatry.

– metazolamideused to treat glaucoma.

– metformina drug for diabetes.

Another side effect of many medications is dry mouthespecially with antidepressants.

And this dryness is one of the most common causes of that funny metal taste in your mouth.

Fortunately, you can get rid of dry mouth very easily: just drink plenty of water!

It also works when chewing sugar-free gum.

3. Over-the-counter vitamins and medications

Most multivitamin supplements contain heavy metals, such as chromium, copper, iron, and zinc.

Similarly, some cold remedies also contain it, for example, zinc lozenges.

It is therefore normal if these products leave a strange metallic aftertaste in the mouth.

Ditto for vitamin treatments that are taken during pregnancy.

And also food supplements of iron or calcium.

In general, this dysgeusia disappears on its owne, as your body absorbs vitamins and medications.

And if not? Here is what Dr. Robert advises:

“If the metallic taste does not go away, ask your doctor for the correct dosage you should take.”

4. A cold or medical infection

Some temporary illnesses affect the sensations and can give a taste of metal.

These are mainly the following diseases:

– a cold,

– sinus infections and

– respiratory tract infections.

Usually the problem goes away along with the infection heals.

So all you have to do is take good care of yourself and rest.

5. Cancer treatments

It concerns chemotherapy and radiotherapy, especially in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Patients who follow these treatments often have problems with taste and smell.

And very frequently, chemo is accompanied by metallic dysgeusia.

The solution ? Researchers think it may be vitamin D and zinc.

Indeed, a study has shown that these products are effective in reducing this unpleasant sensation.

6. During pregnancy

The guilty ? It’s the hormones, of course!

Changes in taste during pregnancy are very common.

For some women, it makes certain foods delicious, when they usually don’t enjoy them that much.

It is also very common for pregnant women to end up with an iron taste in their mouths.

Fortunately for them, it is temporary… As Dr. Robert explains:

“In general, dysgeusia is at its peak during the first trimester.

“After that, the metallic taste gradually disappears as the pregnancy progresses.”

7. Dementia

With age, the perception of taste tends to fade.

But in people with dementia, these sensory changes are much faster.

This is because this dementia disrupts brain functions.

Sometimes food can take on a totally different flavor than usual.

In medicine, this is called the taste abnormalities.

Here is what Dr. Robert has to say about this phenomenon:

“The taste buds of the tongue are directly connected to the brain by nerves.

“And if the part of the brain responsible for taste isn’t functioning normally, taste abnormalities can appear.”

8. An allergic reaction

An iron taste in the mouth is also one of the side effects of a food allergy.

Most often, it’s because of an allergy to shellfish, tree nuts or other tree nuts.

Be careful, because this reaction is one of the warning signs of a anaphylactic shock.

You do not know ? It is no more and no less than a very severe allergic reaction.

In most cases, anaphylactic shock causes serious consequences.

It can even be deadly.

So… do you know you have a food allergy, or do you think you might?

Talk to your doctor!

And ask him what you should do in case of an allergic reaction, before that she arrives.

9. Exposure to chemicals

If you breathe in large doses, certain chemicals may be responsible for the metallic taste in your mouth.

For example, substances based on mercury and lead.

So watch out for insecticides and paints lead based.

It can happen if you sand paint and breathe in the dust.

Lead is also found in water, pottery and cosmetics.

Some fish contain a lot of mercury.

But there are also traces of this toxic metal around construction sites and in old thermometers.

“These chemicals can cause significant health problems. In case of exposure, consult a doctor without delay”, specifies Dr. Robert.

“The metal taste in your mouth disappears as soon as the cause of the problem is known and treated.

Metallic taste in the mouth and Covid-19

This is something doctors have known for a long time.

One of the possible symptoms of Covid-19 is loss of taste and smell.

And on top of that, some people affected by the coronavirus have also reported a metallic taste in their mouths.

“In the other cases, the taste of metal in the mouth disappears as soon as we have treated its cause.

“But not when it comes to Covid-19…

“Indeed, the taste can remain for weeks or even months after the coronavirus has been cured,” explains Dr. Robert.

8 Doctor Tricks to Get Rid of Metallic Taste in Mouth

Do you have a metallic taste in your mouth, and you don’t know what to do?

Dr. Robert gave me the 8 tips below to get rid of it easily.

1. Practice good dental hygiene

To keep your mouth healthy, brush your teeth regularly.

And don’t forget to use dental floss and a tongue scraper.

2. Drink enough water

Hydrate regularly to prevent dry mouth.

As mentioned earlier, this is one of the main causes of dysgeusia.

3. Avoid metal cutlery

Indeed, metal cutlery can make the problem worse.

Be careful, it can also happen if you drink water from a metal water bottle.

Instead, use plastic, glass, or ceramic cutlery.

4. Do mouthwashes

Before your meals, rinse your mouth with warm water and baking soda.

This allows to regulate pH from the mouth. And therefore, to neutralize acidic substances…

Including those that give that funny taste of metal.

5. Quit smoking

You smoke ? So try to quit smoking.

In fact, tobacco make the situation worsebecause it makes the taste of metal even more intense.

6. Suck on an ice cube

Does that surprise you?

According to Dr. Robert, it is a very effective grandmother’s remedy.

And it also works with popsicles.

But only if they are Sugar free.

7. Have a peppermint

You can also chew gum.

But again, only if they are Sugar free !

8. Eat foods that mask the metallic taste

These foods are known to mask the metallic taste:

– citrus fruitsespecially lemon or lime juice.

– Acidic foods, for example pickles and other vinegar-based foods.

– Natural sweeteners, such as Maple syrup (to consume with moderation).

The final word: find the cause of the metallic taste!

Yes, the most important thing in all of this is to find the cause of the problem.

And I can’t stress this enough.

“If you have a lingering funny taste in your mouth, don’t just try to mask it,” insists Dr. Robert.

“Talk to your doctor. He will be able to quickly determine if it is a serious illness and prescribe an adequate treatment to treat the cause.”

Your turn…

Do you know any other grandma’s tricks to get rid of the metal taste in your mouth? Share them with us in the comments. We can’t wait to read you!

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Also to discover:

9 Signs That Show You Are Lacking Iron (And Our Tips For Resolving Them).

12 Foods With More Iron Than Red Meat.