What to Do About a Bad Taste in Mouth?
We have over 10,000 taste buds in our mouth, which are located on and around the tongue, on the roof of the mouth, on the inner side of the cheeks, on the lips and on the back of the throat. The taste that we experience when we place a bite of food on our tongue is achieved by combining five primary tastes, namely, sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami (salt of certain acid like monosodium glutamate). Nonetheless, there are some people who complain of a bad taste or foul smell in their mouth. This can be due to numerous reasons, such as poor oral hygiene, heartburn, dental problems, and so on. However, the most important point is to find remedies to cure this condition at the earliest. Given here are the various causes of bad taste in mouth. Also, learn how to treat and get rid of that foul taste and have a fresh smelling mouth.
Causes of Bad Taste in Mouth
Medications
Often, people complain of a metallic taste lingering in their mouth due to ingestion of certain medicines. These medicines can be either over the counter or prescribed, such as zinc preparations, anti-thyroid and neurological drugs, etc. Another reason for a bad taste in the mouth can be due to treatments, such as chemotherapy.
Bad Breath
Also known as halitosis, bad breath can leave a bad taste in your mouth causing a stinking smell. Sulfur molecules present in the mouth break down protein and by-products when tasted by bacteria. This causes a taste that is very unpleasant and rotten. Furthermore, food particles in-between the teeth and dental ailments can also cause the bacteria to grow resulting in bad breath, or bad taste.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women often complain of bad taste in mouth for some duration of their pregnancy. In severe cases, bad taste can further lead to nausea and worsening the discomfort of morning sickness. Nevertheless, this bad taste is temporary and eventually passes on with the passage of time.
Nasal Problems
The sense of taste is directly related to our ability to smell. Therefore, we are deemed to experience a bad taste in mouth if we are suffering from cold, sinusitis, nasal infection, nasal polyps or runny nose that occur due to certain allergies.
Specific Diseases
There are a number of diseases that can cause a bad taste in mouth. If not a bad taste, they definitely result in an odd taste. The most common diseases are those that affect the tissues of the mouth and throat, such as gum disease, tooth decay, cancers, bacterial infections and others. Hence, if you suspect any medical problem, it is time to visit a doctor or dentist immediately.
Home Remedies for Bad Taste in Mouth
· Drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth after eating or drinking anything, especially milk, tea, coffee and milk products.
· Eating lots of vegetables and fruits helps in countering bad taste problems to a large extent.
· Brush your teeth and floss them daily twice after getting up in the morning and before going to sleep at night. Also take care to brush your tongue at the top and at the back. Use mouthwash to kill any lingering bacteria in the morning and at night.
· Avoid smoking completely and control the consumption of coffee, tea.
· You can chew sugarless gums after your meals if you cannot brush them and rinse your mouth with water.
· Eat or use fresh mint and parsley as mouthwash.
· Gargle 2 times a day with salt water.
· In 1 glass of water add the juice of half a slice of lemon and use it as the last rinse whenever you wash your mouth.
· Suck on 1 or 2 clove spices and cardamom during the day. This will not only cure the bad taste in your mouth but will strengthen your teeth and freshen your mouth.
Sources:
lifestyle.iloveindia.com
home-remedies-for-you.com
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