Bitterness in the mouth. Diagnosis of causes, treatment

Symptoms

Bitterness in the mouth can manifest itself in different ways, for example:

after overeating and eating certain foods - indicates the reflux of bile into the esophagus and diseases of the bile ducts,
aftertaste after taking medications means a disruption of the normal microflora, a negative effect on the liver and the destruction of beneficial bacteria,
after sports training - speaks of liver pathologies.

Bitterness can occur at different times of the day, after physical activity and during the abuse of bad habits. Often the symptom is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, dizziness, heaviness in the side and abdominal pain, white coating on the tongue and a feeling of bloating, heartburn and belching, dry mouth. At the appointment, you need to inform the doctor in detail about each sign.

Elimination of bitterness in the mouth and accompanying symptoms

What can cause nausea? What should you do to remove the unpleasant feeling? If going to the doctor in the near future is not possible, try to relieve unpleasant symptoms at home. It should be remembered that short-term relief of discomfort does not replace the need for treatment. Correct drug therapy is possible if the correct diagnosis is made.

General recommendations

The first thing to do if you complain of nausea is to adjust your diet. Try to adhere to the following recommendations:

cooking methods - boiling, stewing or baking;
you will have to give up fatty, spicy and salty foods for a while;
you need to eat food often, in small portions;
You cannot drink food with food, take liquid 40 minutes after lunch or dinner;
last meal – 3-4 hours before bedtime;
Avoid consumption of sweet soda, flour products, coffee and cocoa.

Citrus fruits will help quickly eliminate an attack of nausea and bitterness in the mouth. Slowly suck on a slice of orange or tangerine, the juice of which will reduce salivation, dilute the taste and block the urge to gag. Mint or menthol lozenges also help relieve nausea.

Drug therapy

If proper nutrition does not help, medications can help with the problem. The possibility of their use should be discussed with your doctor. For therapy prescribed:

to eliminate heartburn and nausea - Almagel, Rennie, Gastal, Omez;
antispasmodics - No-Shpu, Spazgan;
against vomiting – Motilium, Domrid;
hepatoprotectors for restoring liver function - Essentiale Forte, Phosphogliv.

Which doctor treats bitterness in the mouth?

First of all, bitterness in the mouth is considered as a symptom of gastroenterological disorders, so when the first signs appear, you need to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist.

To make an appointment with a doctor, choose any method:

call the clinic +7 (495) 103-99-55,
order a call back,
leave a request for an appointment using a convenient form on the website:

Often people do not pay attention to bitterness in the mouth, explaining the occurrence of the symptom with overeating, an uncomfortable position in bed and some other reasons.

IMPORTANT! Rarely does anyone think that bitterness in the mouth is a signal indicating the development of serious pathology of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

If you have been experiencing this symptom for a long time, do not engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication - make an appointment with a specialist at the Kuntsevo Treatment and Rehabilitation Center! An experienced gastroenterologist will collect anamnesis, complaints, conduct an objective examination, and refer you for laboratory and instrumental diagnostics to understand the cause of the pathology.

Causes of bitterness in the mouth and nausea, associated symptoms

Nausea and bitterness in the mouth are common signs of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract. In case of serious deviations, the body “signals” that it is time to see a doctor. If vomiting, diarrhea, belching, general weakness, flatulence, dizziness, and elevated body temperature are added to the symptoms of an unpleasant taste and nausea, you should consult a physician or gastroenterologist.

The most common causes of nausea and bitterness in the mouth:

stomach or duodenal ulcer;
gastritis, gastroduodenitis;
biliary dyskinesia;
disturbances in intestinal function;
poisoning of the body;
hormonal disbalance;
severe stress;
diseases of the oral cavity – stomatitis, pharyngitis;
the presence of parasites in the body.

Gastrointestinal diseases

A feeling of heaviness in the stomach and nausea in the morning can be the cause of overeating. Avoid fatty, spicy, salty and fried foods for a while, giving preference to vegetables, fruits and buckwheat porridge. Try not to eat in the evening after 19.00.

Nausea and heartburn are common signs of pregnancy. If a delay in the menstrual cycle is added to the unpleasant symptoms, it makes sense to contact a gynecologist and donate blood for hCG.

Bitterness in the mouth, accompanied by nausea or vomiting, is a sign of stagnation in the gallbladder. If the organ malfunctions, bile is released into the esophagus, causing discomfort. If a child or adult is vomiting bile, this is a sign of gastrointestinal dysfunction. The causes may be liver pathologies, diseases of the stomach and duodenum, colitis, pancreatitis, impaired intestinal motility, gastroduodenitis, and inflammation of the gallbladder. In this case, only a gastroenterologist can determine the cause and prescribe proper treatment.

Poisoning of the body

Alcohol poisoning is often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. In this case, drinking plenty of fluids and abstaining from eating during the day will come to the rescue. No additional treatment is required.

Nausea and bitter taste in the mouth can be caused by heavy metal poisoning. Mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium are harmful substances that, when entering the body, quickly spread through the bloodstream, affecting tissues and organs. If you suspect heavy metal poisoning, consult a doctor immediately.

Poisoning of the body can be caused by uncontrolled use of medications. What to do if you have a bitter taste in your mouth after taking antibiotics and other medications? Immediately stop self-medication and seek help from a doctor.

Endocrine disorders

Hormonal imbalance can cause constant bitterness in the mouth. With excessive production of the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine, a spasm of the muscles of the biliary tract occurs - bile is released into the esophagus, causing heartburn and bitterness. Hyper- or hypofunction of the thyroid gland provokes similar symptoms. In this case, the patient is prescribed a hormonal examination.

Oral diseases

Lack of oral hygiene can cause inflammation of the gums and mucous membranes. As a result, wounds and ulcers may appear on the surface of the tongue, tonsils, cheeks and gums, which emit an unpleasant odor and cause a bitter taste. In this case, bitterness in the mouth may be accompanied by a change in taste sensations. It is necessary to maintain good hygiene and brush your teeth twice a day to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Other reasons

Parasites in the body - Giardia, Ascaris, Trichinella and Toxocara - provoke disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, cause nausea, bitterness in the mouth and stool disorders. Parasites are transmitted to humans through dirty hands, unwashed vegetables and fruits, unboiled water and through contact with infected animals.

Short-term attacks of nausea and a bitter taste in the mouth can occur after severe stress. In this case, a walk in the fresh air, good sleep and engaging in your favorite hobby will help normalize the functioning of the nervous system.

Treatment methods

Basically, the treatment of bitterness in the mouth comes down to taking medications. The specialist selects complex therapy based on the results of tests and instrumental examinations. The gastroenterologist identifies one of three problems:

Liver disorders. Means are prescribed to stabilize the operation of the “filter”,
Digestive tract dysfunction. Drugs that affect the digestive system normalize the work
Uncontrolled bile production. Eliminated by drugs that affect the level of secretion, for example, anticholinergics.

Signs and diagnosis

To determine why the patient feels sick and has a bitter taste in the mouth, the doctor must analyze the accompanying manifestations. Their list includes:

Causes of rotten breath

bloating and stomach pain;
nausea;
the appearance of bitterness in the mouth after vomiting;
problems with stool (diarrhea, constipation);
digestive disorders (discomfort in such cases occurs after eating);
dizziness;
increased gas formation;
putrid odor from the mouth.

Dryness and bitterness in the mouth + attacks of nausea are “identifying signs” of gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa). If belching is also added to these, we are talking about cholecystitis. The latter is accompanied by periodic spontaneous pain in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium. It is noteworthy that exacerbation of cholecystitis can be triggered by both increased stress or physical activity, and banal overeating.

Important! Any dyspeptic manifestations (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bitter taste on the oral mucosa, abdominal pain) in most clinical cases are aggravated by malfunctions of the hepatobiliary system (liver, biliary tract, gallbladder) and other gastrointestinal organs.

Thus, patients with such symptoms begin to have difficulty with “heavy” meals, lose their appetite, and may lose weight. Liver disorders can be “recognized” by the characteristic jaundice of the skin and mucous membranes - in combination with dyspepsia, jaundice indicates hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatosis and other serious pathologies. Bitterness and nausea after eating are a sign of the following digestive disorders: gastroduodenitis, problems with intestinal motility (spasmodic nature), colitis, enterocolitis.

Diagnosis for persistent bitterness and nausea includes:

examination, analysis of patient complaints, history taking;
palpation of the epigastrium, right hypochondrium, gallbladder;
fibrogastroduodenoendoscopy (instrumental examination of the esophagus, duodenum and stomach);
general, clinical analysis of blood, urine;
ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
if hepatitis is suspected, liver tests;
pH-metry (allows you to determine the level of stomach acidity);
for diseases of the oral cavity - a dental examination.

Why do we need to treat bitterness in the mouth?

Since an unpleasant taste in the mouth is a symptom of some pathology, a comprehensive examination is needed, without which it is impossible to establish a diagnosis. Our clinic has the latest equipment for ultrasound diagnostics of the liver and gallbladder, gastroscopy, etc., which help identify the pathological process in a short time. Our own laboratory allows you to get test results within a few hours. It is the quick examination process that attracts many Moscow residents to our clinic, as well as experienced, qualified staff ready to help every patient.

Solution

Treatment of bitterness, nausea and other associated symptoms depends on the cause of their occurrence. It happens that it is enough to adjust the diet, not overload the digestive organs and establish a drinking regime, and the discomfort disappears by itself.

Diagnosis of the causes of nausea and bitterness in the mouth involves taking a medical history, analyzing complaints and examining the patient, as well as a whole range of instrumental and laboratory tests

For diseases of the pancreas, intestines, and duodenum, patients are prescribed the following medications:

Pancreatin (enzymatic drug, has a positive effect on digestive function);
Furazolidone (antibacterial tablets, taken after meals, normalize the state of intestinal microflora);
Omeprozole is recommended for ulcerative lesions of the duodenum and stomach;
the medicinal group of hepatoprotectors allows you to prevent further pathological changes in liver cells and restore already “damaged” hepatocytes.

Enterosorbents (drugs that bind and remove toxins from the body), as well as probiotics (“useful” intestinal bacteria) are integral components of drug therapy for bitterness in the mouth and attacks of nausea. For dyskinesia and other problems with the gallbladder or liver diseases, it is useful to take choleretic herbal teas (sold in pharmacies).

Important! In some clinical cases (for example, with cholelithiasis), patients with nausea, bitterness in the mouth, and abdominal pain may require surgical intervention.

Common Causes

Bitterness in the mouth often occurs in patients over 40 years of age, especially in the morning. If the condition remains constant, the patient should seek advice from the local clinic. Sources of unpleasant sensations are presented:

Low quality food – poor preparation, burnt marks affect the aftertaste. It lasts for about half an hour and decreases after drinking water. The taste may be caused by stale nuts or seeds due to the breakdown of the fatty acids they contain.
With age – over the years, changes occur in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, and the ability to distinguish taste is impaired. In this case, any food becomes bitter - due to a reduced amount of saliva and the active proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Nicotine addiction - combustion products settle on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. If a secondary metallic taste occurs, the patient should urgently seek medical help.
Pregnancy - hormonal imbalances change the process of bile movement. The first quarter of gestation can cause discomfort due to persistent toxicosis and regular vomiting. The deviation that appears at the end indicates the development of cholestasis, accompanied by itching, darkening of urine and lightening of stool.
Functional dyspepsia - slow digestion of food and weakened intestinal motility, provokes bitterness in the mouth immediately after eating. The pathology is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, increased formation of gases.
Hepatitis - liver damage of various etiologies is characterized by the same symptoms. Along with the bitter taste, discomfort occurs in the area of the right hypochondrium, and attacks of vomiting mixed with bile.
Diseases of the biliary organs - uncontrolled secretion production leads to an aftertaste after fatty and fried foods, alcoholic drinks. Along with these symptoms, the pathology is accompanied by dull pain and frequent bowel movements. Complex forms of the disease lead to changes in the color of the stool to whitish and constant itching.
Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract - the chronic course of gastroduodenitis is accompanied by bitterness in case of violations of the recommended dietary table or against the background of stable nervous tension.
Diseases of the pancreas - the main symptom is added to the aroma of rotten breath. Exacerbation of the pathology leads to vomiting with food debris and bile. The patient's tongue becomes covered with a grayish or yellowish coating.
Dental problems – ulcers on the oral mucosa, stomatitis and caries cause discomfort. Sometimes the source of the problem is the installation of cheap fillings, which are destroyed under the influence of salivary secretions, or prosthetics.

Bitterness in the mouth can be caused by taking certain medications. In rare cases, the pathological condition is accompanied by neurological problems that provoke a change in taste perception.

Diagnostics

For your information! Sometimes bitterness in the mouth appears without other symptoms, and after hygiene procedures it disappears and does not appear again.

Most likely, in this case, the reason was precisely overeating or excessive alcohol consumption.

The presence of bitterness throughout the day, which does not disappear after brushing your teeth and appears the next day, should be a reason to consult a doctor.

To begin with, you can go to your local physician and tell about all your symptoms.

In this case, it is important to remember what was eaten on the eve of vomiting, which caused nausea and, possibly, to indicate the nature of the vomit (solid, liquid, with bile).

If a person knows for sure that bitterness and vomiting are associated with exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you can immediately contact a gastroenterologist.

You should know! During the examination, the doctor prescribes a number of standard tests:

general blood test, urine test;
coprogram;
blood biochemistry;
Ultrasound;
FGDS;
radiography.

If the internal organs are healthy and no diseases have been identified, the person is sent to a cardiologist.

He conducts a survey, prescribes an ECG and EEG to confirm or refute vegetative-vascular dystonia.

After this, you can visit an otorhinolaryngologist and dentist . It is quite possible that the bitterness in the mouth was always present, but the person noticed it only during vomiting and connected the two symptoms together.

It is worth noting! Diseases of the teeth and gums may also cause a bitter taste in the mouth.