Metallic taste in the mouth and tongue, causes of iron taste in women and men

September 28, 2021 Last revised: October 1, 2021 Oral diseases

Sometimes a person encounters such an unpleasant and unusual sensation as the taste of metal in the mouth. Typically, this symptom is short-term, goes away on its own and does not require medical intervention. Specific foods or bleeding gums can trigger a metallic taste in the mouth.

If the appearance of a metallic taste has become a regular occurrence, you should consult your doctor. Only a specialist will be able to identify and eliminate the factor that provoked this phenomenon. A change in taste perception may indicate a number of diseases that are asymptomatic. In this case, self-medication is not an option; the help of a doctor is required. The doctor will conduct an examination and research that will help determine the true cause of the pathology.

If you don't understand what "metallic taste in your mouth" means, try licking the battery. The oral cavity will immediately be filled with an unpleasant taste, having a sourish and bitter taste. This feeling occurs after a person has eaten, or for no reason. Usually the pathology is accompanied by a feeling of “viscosity” in the mouth. The tongue may become numb or tingly.

Why does pathology appear?

What causes the appearance of “metal” in the mouth? Metal ions when their concentration increases. Less commonly, pathology can be caused by poisoning with arsenic, cadmium or other substances that are classified as hazardous. Such cases are recorded among workers of chemical enterprises and laboratories where experiments are carried out.

Among the pathologies that affect the perception of taste, doctors note:

external factors;
failures and diseases of various origins;
hormonal imbalance;
side effect from taking medications.

How diseases of various organs and systems affect

Diseases, most often asymptomatic, can greatly change a person’s taste buds. If the unpleasant sensation is caused by just such a factor, the symptom will constantly torment the person.

Oral disease

Among dental diseases:

Gingivitis. A disease that affects the gums and leads to redness, bleeding and swelling. Sometimes the metallic taste is accompanied by copious amounts of plaque, acidic breath and pain.
Glossitis. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue, which is infectious in nature. A burn from hot food or chemical elements, as well as injury, can lead to the development of the disease. Among the symptoms of the disease are: swelling of the tongue and its redness, the presence of an “iron” odor from the mouth, and a feeling of bitterness.
Periodontitis (periodontal disease). Gum disease that causes deformation of the tissue surrounding the gums. The disease leads to damage to the capillaries and the development of bleeding. The blood contains a large amount of iron, which is what creates the metallic taste in the mouth.

ENT diseases

If pathogenic fungi appear on the mucous membrane of the respiratory system, they can provoke a change in taste in a person. Fungal infections not only cause a feeling of “metal” in the throat, but also a number of associated symptoms:

there is a constant soreness in the throat;
hearing loses its sharpness;
there is regular bleeding from the sinuses;
there is a feeling of dryness in the mouth;
pain appears in the paranasal sinuses or directly in the ear;
mucous membranes begin to react strongly to hot and spicy foods;
A thick plaque with the consistency of cottage cheese accumulates on the affected area.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Anemia is a pathological condition in which the level of hemoglobin in the blood is greatly reduced. At the same time, the level of red blood cells may decrease, as a result of which the mineral balance is disrupted.

Anemia can be identified by the following symptoms:

a person feels general weakness, is drawn to sleep, migraines and dizziness occur;
tachycardia or bradycardia occurs;
tongue goes numb;
mucous membranes become dehydrated and nails become brittle.

Treatment of anemia involves taking medications with a high iron content. After a course of drug therapy, the discomfort disappears along with the metallic taste.

Diseases of the central nervous system

The nervous system is closely connected with taste buds, as it sends impulses to them and helps to sense taste. Pathologies affecting the central nervous system may be the direct causes of aluminum taste.

Pathologies of the central nervous system are accompanied by tremors, loss of motor ability of the limbs, speech impairment, increased drowsiness or loss of sleep. With pathologies of the central nervous system, a persistent taste of copper is present in the oral cavity.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease of the endocrine system that occurs due to a lack of insulin in the body. The feeling of metal in the mouth occurs at a time when insulin is critically reduced. This provokes an increase in acetone in the urine. The metallic taste will disappear completely or become barely noticeable if the patient is given a dose of insulin.

Patients with diabetes experience not only changes in taste, but also visual impairment. The disease is accompanied by constant thirst and increased appetite.

Lack of vitamins and minerals

Hypovitaminosis causes a metallic taste in the mouth and is accompanied by sleep disturbances, increased irritability, and decreased physical and intellectual performance. This condition can provoke the development of paralysis, polyneuritis, beriberi, and pathology of the human central nervous system.

Problems with the intestines and stomach

Lesions of the system responsible for the assimilation and digestion of food are in first place among the factors. provoking the appearance of “metal” in the taste. The diseases are accompanied by bloating, loss of weight and appetite, diarrhea, and a white coating on the tongue. The sensation of a metallic taste intensifies after drinking any dose of alcoholic beverages.

How do household factors influence

A person may experience an iron taste in the mouth after drinking tap water. This is explained by the fact that old pipes contain iron deposits that can penetrate and dissolve in water. In some areas, large amounts of chlorine are used to purify the water. After a person drinks such water, substances settle on the mucous membrane and begin to oxidize. A person feels a metallic taste in the mouth, and a sour smell emanates from the oral cavity.

Mineral water consumed in high doses can also provoke this phenomenon. Excessive water consumption leads to an excess of microelements, which is even more harmful than their deficiency. To avoid a metallic taste in the mouth, you should limit yourself to two glasses of healing water per day.

Many people use aluminum, cast iron cookware, as well as saucepans made of stainless steel for cooking. Few people know that foods enriched with acids cannot be cooked in cookware with such a coating. These trace elements react with the coating and lead to a metallic taste.

Metal crowns, lip and tongue piercings, and jewelry made of metal and placed in the oral cavity can significantly affect the taste buds. Often they become the catalyst for an unpleasant pathology.

Bad habits

Various bad habits have a great influence on the appearance of an unpleasant taste in the mouth or on the lips.

These include:

Smoking: with cigarette smoke, about a thousand harmful substances enter the body, which not only poison it, but also accumulate in it.
Alcohol: By affecting the brain's ability to transmit nerve impulses, it can distort taste perception. Also, after consuming it, the liver is overloaded, which contributes to the appearance of an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach: caffeine greatly irritates the gastric mucosa and increases its acidity. This causes digestive problems and a steely taste in the mouth.

What causes the sensation of “metal” in women?

The appearance of a metallic taste in the weaker sex can be influenced by purely female conditions, such as:

Sexual activity started too early or too late;
Strict diets;
Hereditary factors;
Termination of pregnancy by surgical method;
Infections transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse;
Menopause period;
Pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the appearance of a metallic taste is provoked by three main factors:

hormonal levels undergoing serious changes;
multivitamins that saturate the body;
vomit.

Diagnostics

During the initial examination, the doctor determines the nature of the accompanying symptoms, the intensity and location of the pain syndrome, changes in the condition of the skin and nails, and records signs of an inflammatory and infectious process.

Diagnostic methods:

general and biochemical blood test;
clinical urine analysis;
tumor marker test;
histological examination of punctures;
chest x-ray;
swab from throat, nose;
Ultrasound of the digestive system, endoscopy of the stomach;
CT, MRI.

Research methods are aimed at identifying the lesion and the dynamics of the disease.

A throat swab may be needed to identify the cause of the unpleasant taste.

The main reasons for the appearance of metal in the mouth

A metallic taste can also be caused by:

Diets. Hunger strikes, accompanied by insufficient consumption of clean drinking water, lead the body to dehydration and disruption of metabolic processes. The result of diets is constant weakness, dizziness and a persistent taste of aluminum in the mouth;
Medicines and active supplements. Drugs such as Tetracycline, Metronidazole, Lansoprazole have a toxic effect that inhibits liver function, resulting in a metallic taste;
Activities involving hazardous substances. These substances gradually accumulate in the body, tormenting a person with a cough and an aluminum taste in the mouth.

Reason #1: presence of metals in the oral cavity

Sometimes the answer to the question “why is there a metallic taste in the mouth” has no reason to suspect a disease; it can be directly related to such an unusual phenomenon as galvanic syndrome.

A similar taste generally occurs as a reaction of the body to metal dentures, metal-ceramic crowns or braces. This is a completely normal phenomenon, because metal, in general, has a certain taste. But galvanic syndrome is a little different. There are cases when structures are created from different or dissimilar metals that interact with each other. The problem is quite dangerous and requires an early solution, namely, the removal of prostheses and structures. Otherwise, there is even a risk of developing neurological disorders.

On a note! Adherents of such appearance improvements as piercings may also feel this symptom constantly. Metal jewelry, in contact with the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with saliva, can oxidize and provoke the appearance of a characteristic sign. But this applies mainly to cheap metals.

Determining the cause of the metallic taste

Many people try to identify the cause of the pathology at home, using the Internet. It is necessary to remember and analyze the conditions after which this condition manifests itself. After drinking a glass of running or mineral water? After a hearty lunch of specific products? Or does the phenomenon arise on its own? If it is not a matter of household factors, but a disease, this will be indicated by a number of symptoms discussed above. However, even if you understand what factor provokes the development of unpleasant symptoms, you cannot do without the help of a specialist and a number of laboratory tests.

Be sure to consult a therapist. If necessary, the therapist will refer you to specialists. This problem can only be solved through comprehensive measures.

Iron taste in the morning

If the unpleasant aftertaste is not present all the time, but immediately as soon as you wake up, then there are disorders of the digestive tract. Sometimes bitterness is added to metallic notes - this is a sign of smokers who did not brush their teeth after smoking a cigarette or this procedure was performed poorly.

If an iron taste appears in your mouth in the morning, this is the result of the presence of food residues in the teeth and cheeks, which feed bacteria. It may also indicate periodontal disease and similar oral diseases. Taking certain medications can cause strange sensations.

Eliminating fatty, fried foods, pickles, and marinades from your diet will help you avoid symptoms. Drink a lot of clean water, at least 2 liters per day. If this doesn't help, consult your doctor.

How is the cause identified?

First of all, the therapist will prescribe a number of studies, both laboratory and instrumental. These include:

Clinical blood test. This study will exclude or confirm the presence of anemia based on the level of indicators such as hemoglobin, red blood cells, microcytes and megaloblasts;
Blood for biochemistry. If the cause of the metallic taste lies in kidney failure, the level of creatinine and urea in the blood will exceed the norm;
Blood for hormones. A hormonal profile study is prescribed for females. On different days of the menstrual cycle, you will need to take estrogen and progesterone; if menstruation is delayed, hCG is prescribed. In order to eliminate suspicion of diabetes mellitus, women are prescribed a glucose test, and, if necessary, a glucose tolerance test with exercise;
Dentist examination. A metallic taste in the mouth can be caused by local causes, so a dental examination becomes mandatory. The specialist diagnoses the condition of the gums, mucous membrane, and crowns. The dentist can identify caries, loose teeth and other reasons that trigger the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth. If there is a large amount of plaque on the mucous membrane, the specialist will take a smear for examination;
X-ray. To diagnose kidney failure, the doctor performs a urography. This makes it possible to establish the functional activity of the organ, the presence or absence of defects. Additionally, an X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract may be prescribed;
Additional research. If a specialist suspects severe poisoning by toxic substances, the patient is sent for a toxicological blood test. FGDS is prescribed for suspected bleeding that may occur in the digestive tract. Additionally, the patient may be referred for consultation to a neurologist.

Taking various medications

Medicines such as antibiotics:

Doxycycline;
Metronidazole;
Doxilan;
Tetracycline;
Innolir;

May have side effects such as iron taste.

A similar effect on taste perception is exerted by:

biological additives;
mineral complexes;
drugs to restore blood pressure;
antiallergic drugs;
holistic;
drugs for the treatment and control of diabetes mellitus.

Drug treatment

The metallic taste in the mouth can be eliminated with medication. The doctor selects a number of conservative measures, focusing on the cause that provokes the unpleasant phenomenon:

For anemia, a course of iron supplements is prescribed. In the first month the patient takes a large dose of the drug, in the next two months the dose is reduced to a minimum. Folic acid and vitamin B12 are prescribed as complex therapy;
If the concentration of sulfuric acid in the patient’s stomach is increased, he is prescribed proton pump inhibitors to reduce the metallic taste;
If renal pathology is diagnosed, the patient is prescribed a course of corticosteroids. The action of this group of drugs is aimed at reducing damage and having an anti-inflammatory effect;
If bacterial processes develop, the specialist will prescribe antibiotics to the patient. The course of treatment is from 7 to 10 days. For pyelonephritis, a combination of 2 drugs is indicated;
In case of poisoning, chelate compounds are prescribed that block and neutralize heavy metals. Complexons are best combined with saline and colloidal solutions.

Reason #6: change in hormonal status

Separately, I would like to note the appearance of such a discomforting symptom in women whose endocrine status undergoes changes during certain periods of life. This group of causes is not associated with systemic diseases, but is determined by a sharp change in the function of the endocrine system. As a result of the restructuring, taste perception changes. So, women can feel this sign during the premenstrual periods, during pregnancy and menopause.

“According to statistics, most often women who are soon expecting the birth of a baby go to the doctor with this phenomenon. The symptom is alarming; it may be evidence of a lack of iron in the body and anemia. If the disease is not treated, it will directly affect the unborn child. But this fact does not mean that only women suffer from hormonal and endocrine disorders, and men face the same. Simply due to their characteristics, women are more often at risk. By the way, the appearance of a “iron” taste in the mouth can also be associated with taking birth control and hormonal pills, because no one has canceled the individual reaction of the body,” comments the chief doctor of a dental clinic in Moscow, N.A. Zabalueva.

Preventive measures to eliminate pathology

What to do if you have a metallic taste in your mouth:

Cook food in dishes made of glass or ceramics;
Drink water only from a filter or boiled. Modern filters can be adjusted to dissolve heavy metals present in the water supply;
Do not take vitamin complexes independently and unsupervised. Taking vitamins should be agreed with your doctor;
Limit mineral water consumption to 2 glasses per day.

In the event that a metallic taste does not occur to a specialist, since it occurs rarely, it is necessary to adhere to several preventive measures:

drink teas with the addition of mint, lemon, cardamom and ginger;
rinse your mouth with lemon water;
purchase a professional mouth rinse containing natural herbs;
eat more citrus fruits that do not contain bitterness - oranges, tangerines;
suck on mints.

One of the important factors is maintaining oral hygiene. For care, use not only toothpaste and floss, but also have regular professional teeth cleaning. This will help avoid the accumulation of bacteria, excessive plaque and tartar, and protect the gums from bleeding and inflammation. If a person has crowns or dentures, it is necessary to carefully monitor their condition and regularly visit a specialist.

Reason #5: systemic diseases

What does a metallic taste mean, barring some of the problems listed above? It can be a sign of systemic diseases1:

anemia: iron deficiency associated with blood loss or low levels of vitamins B6 and B. The taste is quite pronounced and appears after eating. The symptom intensifies as the condition worsens, and is joined by other symptoms: fatigue, dizziness, pallor of the skin, oral mucous membranes,
diseases of the gallbladder and the main “filter” of the body, the liver: the symptom in question is often combined with bitterness, excessive salivation, nausea, pain in the upper abdomen on the right, heaviness, and changes in stool. Such diseases include the appearance of cysts, neoplasms, inflammatory processes,

diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: in particular, stomach diseases, the symptom appears along with nausea, periodic or regular bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, the appearance of a white dense film (plaque) on the surface of the tongue,
diabetes: if a metallic taste appears and is accompanied by severe thirst and sweating, you may need the help of an endocrinologist,
diseases of the upper respiratory tract: the development of inflammation of the nasopharynx and middle ear can cause changes in taste sensations,
pathologies of the lower respiratory tract: especially those accompanied by cough (bronchitis, pneumonia, ARVI),
nervous disorders: a number of neurological disorders, acute cerebrovascular accidents can affect a decrease in the sensitivity of taste buds and the formation of an alarming sign,
oncological diseases: malignant and benign formations can become a trigger for changes in the sense of taste.

Which doctor should I contact?

Since the causes of a metallic taste are quite different, it is necessary to visit a therapist if unpleasant symptoms appear.

After examination and initial diagnosis, treatment of the pathology will be carried out by:

dentist;
gastroenterologist;
pulmonologist;
infectious disease specialist;
neurologist;
oncologist.

How to get rid of metallic taste

After establishing the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe medications, additional treatment methods, the goal of therapy is to eliminate the main cause that provoked the occurrence of a steely taste.

What to do if you have a taste of iron:

exclude fried, fatty, smoked, spicy foods from the diet;
drink purified water without gas;
to refuse from bad habits;
regularly eat fresh greens, apples, liver, bran - these products contain a lot of folic acid, iron, vitamin B12;
in case of severe oxidation, replace dental implants;
Take proper care of your oral cavity and visit the dentist twice a year.

Fresh greens are rich in vitamins and beneficial elements

Garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, tea with ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, mint candies, citrus fruits without bitterness will help get rid of the metallic taste. Rinse your mouth with a solution of 200 ml of water and 5 g of salt.

A metallic taste is a possible symptom of diseases of the oral cavity, respiratory system and digestive system; in women, a hormonal imbalance can provoke the appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste. The true cause can only be identified after visiting a doctor and undergoing a thorough diagnosis.

Rate this article ( 1 ratings, average 5.00 out of 5)

Any taste in the mouth creates discomfort. If it is associated with eating a certain food, it should disappear after some time. But its prolonged presence, accompanied by a yellow coating on the tongue, an unpleasant odor and pain, is an alarming symptom of diseases of the internal organs. In order to get rid of the taste, it is necessary to treat the pathology of which it is a sign.