Why does the metallic taste in the mouth arise and what are the causes that provoke it? It’s bad? If you have a sensation of rust or iron taste in your mouth, we will reveal some of its main causes.
Although this is a rare condition or disorder, it is possible that at some point in your life you have had the sensation of having an unpleasant metallic taste in your mouth. Contrary to what may be mistakenly thought, the truth is that we are dealing with a symptom and never with a disease, which can become a signal, a sign or a warning that something is not working properly in our body. Moreover, it can indicate serious health problems, such as the existence of alterations in the kidneys or liver, or if you are generally in good health, its cause tends to be benign and related to certain habits or specific problems.
From a medical point of view, the alteration of the sense of taste is known by the name of dyspepsia. This alteration causes a change in flavor that precisely causes all those foods and drinks that we consume to be perceived with a truly unpleasant taste, with a tendency to rust, metal or iron. It can manifest itself in isolation or together with other symptoms, become a chronic problem (causing irreversible damage to our sense of taste) or simply remain for a short period of time.
Be that as it may, if at this moment you have the sensation of having a metallic or rusty taste in your mouth, it is interesting to know what causes can cause its appearance, given that these can be banal or simple or even find ourselves before a sign or symptom of a condition or a much more serious illness.
Causes of having a metallic taste in the mouth
Poor hygiene and oral health
Maintaining inadequate and poor oral hygiene can cause an alteration of the sense of taste, causing the appearance of having an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth. Among the conditions that can cause this alteration we can mention the following disorders:
- Gingivitis: Inflammation and infection that destroys the supporting tissues of the teeth (gums).
- Periodontitis: progress without treatment of gingivitis, spreading from the gums to the ligaments and bone that support the teeth.
- Xerostomia: sensation of dry mouth due to the lack or decrease of saliva.
Consumption of certain medications
Some drugs can cause the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth as a side effect, a symptom that can appear just days after starting medical treatment.
Among the drugs that can cause this side effect we can mention antibiotics or chlorhexidine. In these cases it is advisable to go to your doctor’s office and discuss it.
Hormonal disorders in pregnancy
During pregnancy, the changes that usually occur in the different hormonal levels are common, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. These disorders are a common cause of the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth, which disappears after the first three months of pregnancy.
Certain systemic diseases
Some systemic diseases can cause the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth, which is why this symptom becomes an alarm sign that could be an indication that you are suffering from a serious illness.
It can arise in case of cancer and tumors, diabetes, kidney failure or liver malfunction, hyperparathyroidism or Jorgen’s syndrome. This symptom is also common in patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation.
Respiratory problems
A simple cold, a respiratory infection, nasal congestion or an allergy can also cause the sensation of a metallic taste or rust in the mouth, since we must not forget that the nerve endings present in the tongue can be irritated, especially in the nasal area.
It is a temporary condition, which tends to end when the infection is overcome.
Other causes
In addition to the most serious causes mentioned and others that are not really so serious, we must also mention other equally common ones that can cause the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth. This is the case of food poisoning (especially fish poisoning) and vitamin and mineral deficiency.
