The bitter taste in the mouth can have several causes, ranging from simpler problems, such as poor oral hygiene or the use of certain medications, to more serious problems, such as thrush or reflux, for example.
In addition, the use of cigarettes can also give a bitter taste in the mouth, which lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This type of taste change usually improves after eating other foods, drinking water, or brushing your teeth.
- However.
- If the bitter taste persists for a long time or if it appears very often.
- It is recommended to consult a family doctor or gastroenterologist to identify if there is a disease that may be causing the symptom and initiate appropriate treatment.
It is the most common cause of bitter taste in the mouth, especially when waking, and this occurs due to the accumulation of saliva and bacteria in the tongue, teeth and gums, causing bad breath.
What to do: Simply brush your teeth and maintain a routine of at least 2 brushes a day, one after waking up and one before bedtime, for example. In addition, it is also very important to brush the tongue correctly because the accumulation of dead bacterial cells, also known as the lining of the tongue, is the main cause of the bitter taste in the mouth.
There are remedies that, when ingested, are absorbed by the body and released into saliva, causing an alteration of taste, leaving the slime in the mouth. Examples include antibiotics, such as tetracyclines, gout remedies, such as allopurinol, lithium, or medications used to treat certain heart conditions.
In addition, people who use antidepressants may also have dry mouths more often, which alters taste, as taste buds are tighter.
What to do: The bitter taste usually disappears within a few minutes of taking these types of medications. However, if it’s constant and uncomfortable, you can consult your doctor to evaluate the possibility of using another medication that doesn’t cause this type of side effects.
Dysgueusia, also known as metallic taste in the mouth, is a very common symptom in many women during the first trimester of pregnancy. This occurs due to hormonal changes that occur in the woman’s body, leaving the palate more refined. See what other symptoms may be a sign of pregnancy.
For example, some pregnant women may have a similar taste to have a coin in their mouth or drink water from a metal cup, for example.
What to do: A great way to remove the bitter taste from your mouth is to drink lemonade or suck a lemon ice cream. This change usually lasts only a few days and disappears naturally.
Some vitamin supplements that contain large amounts of metallic substances, such as zinc, copper, iron, or chromium, can cause a metallic, bitter taste in the mouth. This side effect is very common and usually occurs when the body completely absorbs the supplement.
What to do: In these cases, wait a few minutes to allow the body to absorb the supplement. If the bitter taste is very intense or appears very often, you can consult your doctor to assess the possibility of reducing the dose or changing the supplement.
Reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach reach the esophagus, after the start of digestion, bringing the acid to the mouth, leaving the mouth with a bitter taste and even with a bad smell.
What to do: Avoid eating very fatty or hard-to-digest foods as they increase acid production through your stomach. In addition, it is also important to avoid very copious meals, as they make it difficult to close the stomach. See more tips on how to handle reflux:
When the liver does not function properly, the body begins to accumulate large amounts of ammonia, which is a toxic substance, which the liver normally transforms into urea and is eliminated by urine. These elevated levels of ammonia cause a change in flavor, similar to that of fish or onion.
What to do: Liver problems are often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea or excessive fatigue. Therefore, if liver disease is suspected, a hepatologist should be consulted to perform blood tests and confirm the diagnosis, initiating treatment if necessary. Understand what signs may indicate liver problems.
Upper respiratory tract infections, such as colds, rhinitis, sinusitis, or tonsillitis, for example, can cause a bitter taste in the mouth, due to substances produced by bacteria in this type of infection.
What to do: In these cases, it is important to drink at least 2 liters of water a day, as this helps to relieve the bitter taste and facilitates recovery. However, it is important to consult a family doctor to identify the specific cause and initiate appropriate treatment. In case of a cold, check out some precautions you should take at home to recover more quickly.
Acidocetosis is a consequence of diabetes, in which, due to the large amount of glucose in the blood and little inside the cells, greater production of ketones occurs in order to provide enough energy for the proper functioning of the body.
Due to the increased amount of celestial bodies circulating in the blood, a decrease in blood pH occurs, which can be perceived by the appearance of certain signs and symptoms such as bitterness of the mouth, intense thirst, bad breath, dry mouth and mental confusion.
What to do: It is important that the blood glucose of the person with diabetes is measured regularly and, if it turns out that the amount of glucose is 3 times higher than normal, it is extremely important to go immediately to the emergency room or hospital. , as this indicates acidocetosis.
In the hospital, the person is monitored and insulin and serum are given directly into the vein to maintain the person’s hydration and decrease the amount of glucose in the blood. Find out how diabetic ketoacidosis is treated.