A change in taste perception is a sign that signals the possible development of various pathologies in the body.
The most common discomfort conditions include a sweet taste in the mouth; the causes of its occurrence in women and men, diagnostic methods and treatment regimens are discussed in detail in the material below.
General description of the anomaly
The sensation of sweetness, present in the oral cavity for a short time after eating desserts, is a natural, transient reaction of receptor zones that has no clinical significance. The need to visit a doctor is indicated only by phantageusia - the presence of the taste sensations in question in the absence of the influence of irritating substances on the analyzers (cells, their microvilli).
The described pathology can be permanent (protracted) or short-term. It is observed only in the morning or throughout the day, occurs in isolation or is accompanied by additional symptoms. Among the latest:
- bad breath;
- the appearance of dense gray deposits on the tongue;
- heaviness, discomfort in the stomach.
Shades of abnormal taste sensations vary from sweet and sour to cloying, milky and bittersweet.
Reasons why there is a sweet taste in the mouth
The reasons for the appearance of a sweetish taste in the mouth in patients of different genders and ages are almost identical. Conventionally, they can be differentiated into 5 groups. The first includes diseases localized in various organs and tissues. Among them:
- disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and thyroid gland;
- neurological disorders;
- diseases affecting the respiratory system;
- dental diseases.
The second group of factors that provoke the appearance of a persistent sweetish taste in the mouth includes an unbalanced diet and regular overeating.
Experts identify pregnant women as separate categories of patients, as well as people with bad habits and patients who have received chemical poisoning.
Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract
Indigestion, gastritis, increased stomach acidity, ulcers, GERD, pancreatitis are diseases that are the most common causes of a sweetish taste in the mouth.
The listed pathological conditions provoke the entry of the contents of a hollow muscular organ into the esophagus. Consequences of abnormalities include heartburn, headache, epigastric discomfort, unpleasant taste in the mouth, and increased salivation. Temporary relief occurs after eating.
Central nervous system disorder, chronic stress
Neurological disorders (especially ailments accompanied by the innervation of facial muscles), prolonged overexertion, lack of proper rest during excessive stress - these are conditions accompanied by a feeling of sweetness in the mouth due to the development of changes in the functioning of taste buds. The symptom is observed in combination with the main signs of disease - lack of appetite, headaches, depression, attacks of dizziness.
Endocrine diseases
Problems with the thyroid and pancreas are also accompanied by the appearance of a sweet taste. The discomfort is permanent and is caused by a disruption in the penetration of glucose into vascular tissues and saliva.
A change in taste perception may be a sign of the development of diabetes. In diabetes, changes in taste sensations are accompanied by hyperhidrosis, thirst, mental lability, skin itching, and a sharp decrease (increase) in body weight.
Respiratory system infections
The natural functioning of receptors in infectious pathologies of lacunae of the tonsils, lungs or nasal sinuses is disrupted by the activity of colonies of microorganisms, as a result of which a purulent focus is formed. The most dangerous pathogen is considered to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes bronchitis and pneumonia. The main signs of disease are:
- sore throat or chest;
- labored breathing;
- loss of appetite;
- a sharp increase in temperature;
- weakness;
- dry lips
Inflammatory diseases localized in the upper respiratory tract often cause a sweet taste in the mouth and require treatment under medical supervision. Attempts to independently eliminate such ailments are fraught with the development of serious complications, including death.
Diseases of the teeth, oral cavity
Stomatitis
With lesions of the oral mucosa, stomatitis, caries and advanced forms of periodontal disease, the growth and development of colonies of infectious agents leads to the appearance of a sweet taste. When visiting the dentist, men and women talk about the feeling of powdered sugar on the palate (gums), complain about bleeding of soft tissues, pain in the affected area, radiating up, down, and to the sides.
Attempts to relieve discomfort on your own bring relief only for a short time. Dental diseases should only be treated by a specialist.
Additional circumstances
The cause of sweetness in the mouth may be:
- To give up smoking. Regenerating receptors are more strongly affected by irritating substances.
- Chemical poisoning. Pesticides, lead, and phosgene affect the taste buds, changing the way they work.
People who constantly consume high-calorie foods also often suffer from discomfort in the mouth. Doctors, answering patients’ questions about why a sweet, milky taste appears in the mouth, name the following reasons:
- Excessive amount of carbohydrates received (presence of meat, flour, sweet dishes, sweets in the daily menu).
- Binge eating.
- A history of diseases causing metabolic disorders.
Causes of sweet taste in the mouth in women
In pregnant women, discomfort in the mouth may occur due to the development of gestational diabetes. At risk:
- women over 35 years old;
- representatives of the fair sex carrying a large fetus;
- patients suffering from pathological toxicosis, obesity, and gastrointestinal diseases.
The pathology negatively affects the child’s condition, so the detection of a sweet taste in the mouth in the morning or after eating signals the need for immediate contact with the attending physician (gynecologist).
Blood in the mouth
One of the most important and yet common causes of this phenomenon is bleeding. Naturally, since we are talking about the mouth, then most often it arises from the gums. But increased gum bleeding can be caused by a number of factors.
Question answer
What causes the bitter taste in the mouth? One of the most common problems is inflammatory infectious diseases of the oral cavity. The reason may be either untreated, not fully sanitized teeth, or inflammatory diseases of the gums and tonsils themselves. These could also be neoplasms. That is, the problem lies in all local processes.
Another fairly global problem that we should always remember is bleeding gums due to changes in blood clotting. These are various types of thrombophilia, for example. Of course, there will be not only a salty taste in the mouth, but also other symptoms of hemorrhagic syndrome.
Another rather serious reason is blood disease, in particular those that are accompanied by bleeding. This could be thrombocytopenia, anemia, etc. That is, in this case, salty in the mouth is the taste of blood, and such a condition always requires prompt differential diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
What does a sweet taste in the mouth mean depending on its manifestation?
Unpleasant taste has various forms of manifestation. Depending on the “shade” of the sensation and the time of its occurrence, one can conclude that various diseases are present.
Thus, a sweet taste that appears in the mouth after waking up is a significant sign indicating the possible development of inflammation of the pancreas.
As the disease progresses, the breakdown of glucose stops, which leads to an increase in blood sugar levels.
Associated symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas are nausea, bloating, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, radiating to the back. Pancreatitis is indicated by frequent belching and excessive salivation. The sensation of sweet taste that appears in the mouth in the morning disappears after eating.
A sweet and sour taste is a sign of latent (asymptomatic) development of diabetes, the presence of a prediabetic state. Bittersweet - diseases of the biliary tract, liver damage.
Possible complications
The taste of garlic in the mouth, which appears as a result of eating the plant or due to hormonal imbalance, does not require the use of medications and disappears on its own after 24-72 hours. Milk, lemon juice or parsley will help speed up the process of removing sulfurous substances from the body.
If the unpleasant taste is caused by the development of dental pathologies, diseases of the ENT organs or gastrointestinal tract pathologies, corrective treatment is required aimed at eliminating the disease and preventing further infection. If left untreated, the unpleasant condition will only worsen, leading to the destruction of tooth enamel, breathing or digestion problems.
The most dangerous cases are arsenic poisoning and selenium overdose, which can cause death. In this case, when a garlic taste appears, it is necessary to take emergency measures to prevent further toxic effects, as well as quickly cleanse the body.
The appearance of a garlic taste in the mouth is one of the common symptoms that often occurs during the season of respiratory infections and is associated with eating the vegetable. A garlic taste that disappears after careful oral hygiene or drinking milk can also be a symptom of hormonal dysfunction or heavy metal poisoning, as well as diagnose gastrointestinal problems that require medication and a special diet.
Diagnostics
After detecting the symptom in question, it is recommended to consult a therapist or specialists. Among them:
- nutritionist, gastroenterologist;
- dentist, ENT;
- neurologist;
- endocrinologist
The doctor will examine and interview the patient and identify a disease that could lead to the appearance of a constant sweet taste in the mouth. To confirm a preliminary diagnosis, the results of a blood test, urine test and other studies may be needed.
Instrumental diagnostic methods - ultrasound of internal organs, FGS, radiography - help to supplement the obtained clinical picture in order to find out why unpleasant sensations occur.
The main causes of acetone odor from the mouth
The unpleasant odor of acetone from the mouth may be a consequence of:
- poor nutrition, prolonged fasting;
- acute alcohol poisoning;
- physical fatigue;
- acetonemic syndrome;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes mellitus;
- ketoacidosis;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- severe disturbances in the functioning of the liver and kidneys;
- schizophrenia.
Let's look at each reason in more detail.
Hunger
If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet for a long time, the body will begin to use up reserves of proteins and fats as sources of energy. With the active breakdown of lipids, ketone bodies are formed. They are responsible for the taste of acetone in the mouth.
The symptom is especially pronounced in the morning, immediately after waking up . If a person does not stop fasting, his urine will also begin to smell.
Alcohol poisoning
As a result of alcohol intoxication, many biochemical reactions begin to proceed incorrectly. Catabolic processes come to the fore. Ketone components are actively synthesized. Then in the morning after a feast, the addict is faced with an unpleasant acetone aroma.
Physical fatigue
An increase in the level of ketone bodies is often observed in professional athletes and people involved in strength sports. Their body actively breaks down fats to get an additional portion of energy. This is the reason for the increase in dimethyl ketone concentration.
If an unpleasant symptom persists for several days in a row, you cannot ignore it. It is recommended to visit a doctor and undergo laboratory tests.
Acetonemic syndrome
Most often, this condition is found in preschool children. The child is very nauseous and vomits periodically. He becomes lethargic, passive, pale, refuses to eat, and sleeps poorly. The patient smells strongly of acetone.
Often acetone syndrome is caused by severe viral and infectious diseases , fever, and dehydration. If it develops, you should urgently consult a pediatrician.
Pregnancy period
While carrying a child, the load placed on a woman’s body increases many times over. Important hormonal changes occur. Some expectant mothers experience changes in their sense of taste in the first trimester. They begin to smell dimethyl ketone when they eat or drink something.
There is no need to worry about such changes. As a rule, they go away on their own along with toxicosis. But you still need to notify your obstetrician-gynecologist about strange sensations.
Diabetes
The smell can occur during a long and complex course of the disease. This symptom is not characteristic of the initial period of diabetes. At the same time, the patient begins to suffer due to a constant feeling of thirst, drying out of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, and decreased appetite.
Ketoacidosis
A dangerous complication of diabetes. It is characterized by a rapid increase in the concentration of ketone bodies against the background of cessation of insulin production. This can happen with a fever, and also if a person forgot to take the next insulin injection, the day before he worked a lot and hard.
The situation with this diagnosis worsens gradually. First, the patient notices that he constantly feels the taste of dimethyl ketone. His thirst increases. Then weakness appears and breathing quickens. It is important not to wait for the complication to progress and to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Thyrotoxicosis
With thyrotoxicosis, the content of thyroxine in the blood increases. As a result, the breakdown of protein structures in the human body is activated. A strange chemical taste appears in the mouth, which disappears temporarily after brushing your teeth. If the patient drinks little and eats poorly, the manifestations of the disease become more obvious.
Liver diseases
The liver is the natural filter of the human body. It is responsible for neutralizing toxins and harmful substances, removing incompletely oxidized metabolic products.
If severe liver disease has developed, a specific acetone taste very often occurs. He is accompanied by:
- weakness;
- nausea;
- pain in the right hypochondrium;
- constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
Among the main liver disorders in which the aroma of acetone appears are:
- Viral diseases. Among them: hepatitis B and C, cytomegalovirus infection.
- Failure in the functioning of the liver parenchyma due to severe intoxication of the body.
- Liver failure, Reye's syndrome, drug overdose.
Kidney diseases
With kidney problems, the body cannot normally eliminate toxic ketone substances. Then the taste of dimethyl ketone remains permanently. There is a failure of nitrogen metabolism. The patient's appetite worsens and nausea appears.
People who have been diagnosed with acute renal failure often complain of an acetone taste. Then, in addition to a strange discomfort, urination becomes rare and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity dry out.
Schizophrenia
Very often, patients with schizophrenia complain about unpleasant acetone symptoms. This symptom is associated with an obsession with poisoning - it seems to a schizophrenic that they are trying to poison him.
Treating a sweet taste in the mouth
The treatment regimen is prescribed taking into account the general condition of the patient, the presence of chronic and concomitant diseases. After successful treatment of the underlying disease, discomfort disappears.
To relieve pathologies, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and antacids are used, depending on the type of disease. The use of alternative medicine recipes will help to consolidate the achieved results. If the cause of the taste lies in a dental disease, you need to undergo a course of dental treatment.
Knowing why an unpleasant taste appears, you can successfully prevent its occurrence by regularly undergoing medical examinations, correcting your diet, and observing work and rest schedules.
If it was not possible to avoid the manifestation of a symptom, you should immediately contact the clinic - a favorable outcome of any internal diseases is possible only if you receive high-quality and timely therapy.
