A metallic taste in the mouth is a common way people experience taste dysfunction, a set of symptoms healthcare professionals call dysgeusia (pronounced dis-goo-zhuh). What does it feel like? It feels like a bitter take in the mouth, and it can be unpleasant to those experiencing it. Sometimes, the taste of metal is accompanied by other bad tastes, like bitterness or saltiness. In some cases, foods will taste like metal, a condition called parageusia (altered taste). Occasionally, the metal taste lingers even though there’s no food or liquid in the mouth, a condition called phantogeusia (phantom tastes). Research suggests that some causes of metallic taste are a problem with the sense of smell rather than the taste buds, which is true of most taste disruptions. That’s because we only taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory. Everything else we “taste” is something we’re smelling. “Metal mouth” is hard to live with, but most causes are harmless and temporary. Some causes may be more serious, so consult a healthcare professional if the metal taste does not disappear or if there are other symptoms.
There are many reasons why you might notice a metallic taste in your mouth, ranging from infections and allergies to serious medical problems like central nervous system damage or kidney failure.
Common causes of a metallic taste in the mouth are upper respiratory problems, including:
The common cold
Sinus infections
COVID-19
Other upper respiratory infections
Allergies, including seasonal allergies and food allergies, such as allergies to shellfish or tree nuts
Another common cause of a metallic taste in the mouth is a medication side effect. More than 300 drugs can cause a metallic taste in your mouth. The most common incude:
Dental conditions due to poor oral hygiene are another common cause of a metallic taste in the mouth:
People with stomach acid problems may experience a number of taste changes, including a metallic taste. Causes include:
Chemical exposure or metal poisoning is another cause. One common cause of metal poisoning is overdoing multivitamins or mineral supplements.
Other causes of a metallic taste in your mouth include:
Dry mouth or anything that causes dry mouth, such as Sjogren’s syndrome
Pregnancy, especially in the first trimester
Zinc deficiency
Kidney failure
Diabetes
Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction)
Burning mouth syndrome
The nervous system is responsible for taste and smell sensations, so nerve damage or central nervous system dysfunction commonly causes a metallic taste in the mouth. These include:
Most causes of a metallic taste in the mouth are temporary and harmless. Severe conditions that may cause a metallic taste in the mouth will have additional symptoms that are more evident and debilitating.
RELATED: 12 medications that cause dry mouth (and how to treat it)
A metallic taste in the mouth is usually not a cause for worry unless it doesn’t go away or if other symptoms are involved. In those cases, visit a doctor, dentist, or other healthcare professional for evaluation and treatment. An emergency room visit is usually not justified unless there are other severe symptoms.
People with persistent taste problems are at risk of complications such as loss of appetite, weight loss, poor nutrition, and reduced quality of life. If a metallic taste doesn’t get better, talk to a healthcare provider.
The clinician will start with a medical history, a review of other symptoms, and a physical or dental examination. The clinician will likely examine the nose, mouth, and throat.
Be prepared to answer questions such as:
When did the taste changes start?
Is it constant, or does it only happen when eating or drinking?
Are there other symptoms?
Do you have allergies or an upper respiratory infection?
Have you noticed any changes in memory or thinking?
The healthcare provider may ask you to complete questionnaires to measure how smell and taste have changed. They may also perform taste and smell tests.
If further examinations and tests are needed, they may include blood tests, X-rays, urine tests, nerve tests, and cognitive assessments. A specialist in ear, nose, and throat disorders called an otolaryngologist may examine the nose and sinuses using a nasal endoscopy or a CT scan.
Some common causes of a metallic taste in the mouth are upper respiratory infections, including COVID-19. If that’s the case, there will be other signs of infection, such as coughing, runny nose, fever, and other well-known symptoms. A viral infection like COVID-19 infection is contagious, but the metallic taste in the mouth is not.
A metallic taste in the mouth will last for as long as the underlying cause persists. In many cases, a metallic taste will pass in a short amount of time. When taste or smell changes are due to COVID-19 or nerve damage, they can persist for weeks, months, years, or longer.
RELATED: How to regain taste and smell after coronavirus
There are no specific treatments for a metallic taste in the mouth. The only way to improve or eliminate a metallic taste is to fix the underlying cause. Treatment will depend on the cause, and recovery of normal taste may be rapid depending on the cause:
Once dental conditions are resolved, the bad taste will go away quickly.
A metallic taste due to drug side effects can be fixed by switching to different drugs, but that may not always be possible. The metallic taste will go away within a day or two after the drug is discontinued.
People with stomach acid problems can be treated with antacids, stomach acid reducers, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes. Treatment will reduce the bad taste in the mouth.
Problems with smell and taste due to infection typically clear up when the body fights off the infection. COVID-19, however, can cause symptoms like bad taste and lack of smell for months or years following an infection.
Chemical exposure or metal poisoning may require emergency treatment, but the metallic taste should go away when metal levels in the body return to normal.
Dry mouth can be treated by drinking fluids, humidifiers, sugarless candy and gum, and saliva substitutes.
A metallic taste in the mouth may only be a temporary problem, or it could be a long-lasting one. Still, it’s challenging to live with, even for a day or two. Here are some tips to help reduce that bad taste:
Don’t eat or drink with metallic utensils or cups.
Brush and floss the teeth and use an antibacterial mouthwash to maintain oral health.
Drink water. Dry mouth can worsen the metallic taste.
Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy or mints to cover the bad taste and treat a dry mouth.
Eat foods with a strong taste, such as citrus fruit.
Gargle with salt water.
Drink green tea.
Don’t hesitate to research what works for other people. When people talk about metallic taste or dysgeusia on online forums, they often recommend hard candy or mints as effective ways to cover or reduce the bad taste. It’s not good to eat too much sugar, so sugarless candy may be a better choice. Some people report success when chewing exceptionally strong flavors like hot cinnamon candies.
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