It’s normal to have a bitter taste in your mouth sometimes, but things change when the sensation persists. The latter can point to a serious oral health issue – the kind that needs professional treatment. As such, you’ll want to respond properly if you ever develop this taste. Your Downers Grove dentist is here to make sure that happens. With that said, here’s a primer on potential causes and solutions for a bitter mouth taste.
Bitter Mouth Taste: The Basics
Known medically as dysgeusia, a bitter and persistent mouth taste has three key symptoms. These are:
- A Bitter & Metallic Flavor – In most cases, patients with dysgeusia describe the constant taste as metallic, rancid, salty, and bitter.
- Long Duration – Unlike occasional bitter tastes, dysgeusia sticks around for long periods.
- Lack of Home Remedies – While they may help a little, home remedies like brushing one’s teeth don’t usually treat dysgeusia.
Due to the traits above, dysgeusia is highly distracting. Those who’ve had it often claim that the bitter taste interferes with daily life.
What Causes a Bitter Mouth Taste?
While some cases are harmless, a bitter mouth taste often stems from issues like:
A Dry Mouth
Dysgeusia often results from dry mouth, a condition that lowers your saliva levels. That’s only natural – the liquid in your mouth removes various bad-tasting microbes from your tongue. As for dry mouth’s causes, they include medications, tobacco smoking, and even aging.
Burning Mouth Syndrome
A bitter mouth taste sometimes results from burning mouth syndrome, which causes a burning sensation in your mouth. This condition can include a rancid taste, though its symptoms usually appear sporadically (if at all).
Bad Oral Care
If you don’t keep your smile clean, your mouth can develop a persistent bitter taste. That’s because foul-tasting plaque will build up as you don’t brush or floss enough. In that case, the tastes could even point to oral dangers like cavities, gum disease, and worse.
Why Visit Your Dentist for Help?
While it may seem harmless (though annoying), you should see a dentist if you have a persistent bitter taste. They’ll quickly treat the issue and keep your oral health stable.
Indeed, dentists have several ways to treat a bitter mouth taste. One method is to prescribe a mouthwash that stimulates saliva flow. If the taste stems from a cavity, a dentist can also provide a dental crown or filling. They could even clean out bad-tasting gums with gum disease treatment.
A bitter taste in your mouth could mean something awful, so don’t ignore it. See your local dental provider for help!
About the Practice
Dentique Dental is based in Downers Grove, IL. Led by Dr. Shuaipaj, our practice has been giving patients strong smiles for over 20 years now! This experience has made us experts in comprehensive dentistry, always tailoring care to your needs and using the latest dental technology. That means you can trust us to give your whole family thriving grins! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (630)-968-8439.