Iron taste in the mouth - symptoms, most likely causes.

A foreign taste in the mouth not only causes discomfort and prevents you from enjoying your favorite food, but also often indicates health problems.

The occurrence of a metallic taste in the mouth is familiar to a large number of people: this sensation is not the most pleasant, but not all of those who have encountered it try to find out its cause. There is nothing wrong with if the iron taste in the mouth appears once, but if it occurs periodically, then the reasons for this phenomenon should be found out.

Quite often you can hear complaints about a metallic taste in the mouth: why does it appear and how to get rid of it?

The reasons that cause an iron taste in the mouth can be very different: when faced with this symptom, you need to try to determine how often it occurs, and whether it is accompanied by any other signs.

First of all, it is worth clarifying what a metallic taste in the mouth is: it is unlikely to confuse this phenomenon with anything else, since it is a pronounced bitter taste with sour notes - a fairly accurate understanding of this taste can be obtained by touching the battery with your tongue . Often the appearance of such a taste is accompanied by an astringent sensation in the mouth and tingling of the tongue (partial numbness is also possible).

Metal taste as a symptom of oral diseases

Patients with gum problems often complain of a strong metallic taste that occurs repeatedly throughout the day. The most popular diseases that provoke such unpleasant sensations include periodontitis and gingivitis, which are accompanied by bleeding gums, and many people describe the taste of blood as metallic. It usually appears during brushing your teeth and after eating. Some patients feel as if there is a foreign body in the mouth, which causes serious inconvenience.

Loose teeth and tartar build-up can also cause a metallic taste. There is no point in trying to independently identify the causes - it is better to immediately contact a dentist.

Clinical manifestations

If your breath smells bad only in the morning, after sleep, we are talking about physiological halitosis. This is due to a decrease in saliva production at night, which causes the rapid proliferation of anaerobic bacteria. After hygienic cleaning, discomfort disappears and breath remains fresh.

If your breath smells bad even after brushing your teeth, you can confidently talk about the pathological nature of the symptom. The nature of halitosis is determined by the cause of its occurrence:

A purulent odor
is observed against the background of dental and ENT diseases (pharyngitis, laryngitis, periodontal disease);
In cases of dehydration and diabetes mellitus, there is a smell of acetone
from the mouth. Also, the taste of acetone is characteristic if a person follows a strict diet or fasts for medicinal purposes. A lack of carbohydrates promotes the formation of ketone bodies, which can smell like nail polish remover on your breath.
“Uraemic” breathing is typical for patients with renal failure, liver dysfunction, and diffuse toxic goiter. The smell of ammonia
is detected in the air exhaled by such patients ;
A putrid odor
often accompanies bronchitis, pneumonia, lung carcinoma or abscess, and bronchiectasis;
A sour aroma
appears in case of fungal infections of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum with high acidity.

Many mucosal pathologies, alcohol hangovers, smoking, metabolic disorders and other pathological conditions smell bad. If you cannot remove the smell from your mouth after hygienic cleaning, you should seek help from a dentist. The doctor will find out the cause of halitosis and, if necessary, refer you for consultation to a specialist in another field (general practitioner, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist).

Why there is an iron taste in the mouth: reasons not related to disease

If you notice an iron taste in your mouth, you should not immediately panic: there is a possibility that the unpleasant sensation is not associated with diseases.

It may appear due to:

drinking mineral water with salts (often this product is enriched to compensate for iron deficiency in the body);
drinking low quality drinking water (for example, supplied to the home through old rusty pipes);
tongue piercing (the sensation appears as a result of the metal reacting with certain foods);
using cast iron and aluminum cookware when preparing and eating food.

Other causes of unpleasant odor

If your child's breath smells like iron, the cause may be drinking untreated tap water. In this case, the problem can be solved by installing filters for water purification. An unpleasant taste or odor in this case may indicate that there is a large amount of iron in the water. Typically, an increased concentration of iron is due to the poor condition of water pipes or the mineral composition of the soil. In this case, the settled water becomes dark rusty.

In some cases, such a smell may appear if food is consumed from low-quality aluminum cookware. In this case, you just need to avoid consuming products from low-quality dishes.

Medical causes of metallic taste

If a metallic taste appears in the mouth, this may indicate illness. Their list is very extensive. To make it easier to classify, diseases can be divided into two groups: dental and non-dental.

Diseases that lead to a metallic taste, which are systemic in nature and are not associated with teeth and gums, are as follows:

diseases of the ENT organs (sinusitis, otitis, laryngitis, etc.);
lung diseases (pneumonia, tuberculosis);
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, cholecystitis);
diseases affecting the nervous system (sclerosis, tissue tumors);
anemia due to deficiency of iron or B vitamins.

It is not uncommon for a metallic taste to accompany diseases that develop in the oral cavity. These include:

stomatitis (the mucous membrane of the oral cavity becomes inflamed, which is often accompanied by the formation of small ulcers);
gingivitis (inflammation of the gums);
periodontitis (the disease appears as a result of advanced gingivitis, when the infection no longer affects the external tissues, but the periodontium);
glossitis (formation of plaque on the tongue, its inflammation).

Another common cause of taste associated with the oral cavity and dentistry is the installation of crowns and dentures. The appearance of a taste in this case is normal, provided that it goes away within 1-2 months. A sign that adaptation to the structure in the mouth has not occurred is unpleasant sensations in the form of tingling of the tongue, burning, and a feeling of dryness.

Bad breath: causes

The most common cause of unpleasant odor is the active activity of pathological bacteria in the oral cavity. Diseases such as caries, periodontitis, pulpitis, periodontitis, gingivitis, stomatitis, as well as the formation of tartar can lead to persistent bad breath.

The second place among the causes of unpleasant odor is dry mouth (the medical term is xerostomia

). Mica, which moisturizes our mouth, has bactericidal properties. It kills bacteria, neutralizes their waste products, rinses and cleanses the oral cavity. If there is not enough saliva produced, bacteria are activated, resulting in an odor. Dry mouth can be a consequence of illness or taking a number of medications. It can also be caused by age: over time, the salivary glands begin to work less intensively, the composition of saliva changes, and its antibacterial properties are lost.

The smell can also be caused by ENT diseases: sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, runny nose.

Another cause of unpleasant odor is diseases of the internal organs. It can be:

renal failure;
liver failure;
gastric diseases (gastritis, stomach ulcer);
lung diseases.

Smoking is also a cause of persistent bad breath. The smell is caused by substances contained in tobacco smoke and deposited in the oral cavity. The only way to eliminate the unpleasant odor in this case is to quit smoking.

How to identify the cause of a metallic taste in the mouth

Only a doctor can identify the correct medical causes and figure out why a metallic taste appears in the mouth after conducting appropriate studies and tests, so you should not hesitate to visit medical specialists.

Measures to identify the cause of unpleasant sensation in the mouth:

biochemical and clinical blood tests to determine the level of various substances in the body (for example, if hemoglobin is low, this may indicate the development of anemia, a high creatinine level indicates kidney disease);
a detailed dental examination, during which the general condition of the teeth and gums is determined;
hormone level test;
X-ray (used both in case of suspected diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and in the dental field);
MRI, gastroscopy and various other methods depending on the type of disease detected.

Solutions to the problem

To eliminate the unpleasant odor and taste in the mouth, which can occur under the influence of diseases of the stomach, intestines or liver, you must first get rid of the cause. After completing all diagnostic measures, the doctor will be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Additionally, you should monitor your oral hygiene, get rid of metal utensils, adjust your diet, use mouthwash, and drink filtered water.

Chief author and editor-in-chief: Makarskaya S.E., 29 years of experience.

Last revision: 01/27/2018

Metal structures in the mouth

After installing braces and crowns, dentists warn patients about the possible appearance of a metallic taste - this is a normal phenomenon that should subside within a week after the procedure. If this period has passed, and discomfort still makes itself felt, the reasons may be as follows:

allergy to metal. It is very rare, but taking an allergy test will not be superfluous. If the suspicion is confirmed, the only solution will be a complete replacement of all installed structures;
galvanism (interaction between metals), which occurs in the case of installation of orthopedic structures made of different materials that interact with each other. If all the crowns and posts are made of the same material and the amalgam fillings are replaced, the problem will disappear.

If you have metal dentures or implants, an iron taste may become noticeable after consuming acidic foods and drinks. Accordingly, the presence of piercings on the tongue or lips can also cause a similar effect.

What to do if you have a bad breath

The principles of treating halitosis are based on the causes of its occurrence. If the source of bad breath is a source of infection or a carious cavity, the unpleasant symptom will disappear after a course of professional hygiene with the removal of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque, treatment of caries, removal of decayed teeth that cannot be restored by orthopedic methods.

Metallic taste in the mouth of people of different sexes

A number of reasons that cause the sensation of metal are divided by gender.

For men who work in mining or in industries that use heavy metals, an iron taste may appear during each shift and disappear after the end of the shift. Long-term wearing of massive metal objects (bracelets, watches) also leads to a similar result, since during prolonged contact with the skin the concentration of ions entering the blood through the pores becomes too high.

Women may experience a metallic taste due to:

pregnancy. Many expectant mothers note that a metallic taste periodically appears during pregnancy. Why does this happen? Firstly, the matter may be a lack of microelements and vitamins, and secondly, changes in hormonal levels and malfunctions in the functioning of receptors that recognize taste can be to blame;
the use of weight loss drugs and various biological additives, which often leads to poisoning due to incorrect dosages and the desire to quickly get the most pronounced result possible;
insufficient amount of fluid consumed (women resort to this remedy to lose weight and get rid of swelling). A metallic taste is one of the signs of dehydration.

It is best to start combating this not very pleasant feeling by visiting a doctor who will prescribe the necessary tests and examinations. Otherwise, you can look for reasons on your own and continue to experience discomfort regularly for a very long time.

Hypovitaminosis

Disturbances in the level of microelements in the human body are called hypovitaminosis. It can also cause an unpleasant metallic odor from the mouth. This condition is accompanied by other symptoms that help diagnose it: weakness in the limbs, increased fatigue, sleep disturbances, mental disorders, problems with memory and brain speed.

Hypovitaminosis is the main cause of metallic breath in a child, since during the period of intensive growth of the body, the level of one or another element in the blood is often disturbed.