We have all experienced those health situations that are odd and seem to have no logical explanation. It could be a smell that only you seem to pick up. Or maybe it’s an itch on the palm of your hand that sticks around for a day or two before mysteriously disappearing. Perhaps it’s the taste of blood in your mouth.
You don’t remember biting your tongue or cutting your gums, but you still have a blood taste in mouth. But what can cause this metallic taste in the mouth? In this article, we will examine what can cause the taste of blood in the mouth as well as remedies for the uncomfortable condition.
What Causes Blood or Metallic Taste in Mouth?
“Why does my mouth taste like blood?” “Why do I taste blood in my mouth?” If you have the taste of blood in the mouth, you’ve probably typed one or both of these questions into your favorite search engine. As it turns out, there are a number of things that can attribute to the unsavory taste. Some of these are pretty obvious, but others might surprise you.
1. Burning or Biting the Tongue
Any damage to the tongue could obviously draw blood, which leads to the taste being present in your mouth.
2. Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums as a result of an ailment like gum disease or over brushing can also leave the taste of blood in the mouth.
3. Dental Problems
Certain conditions that affect the teeth such as tooth decay can lead to blood in the mouth.
4. Medications
Some antibiotics, antidepressants, and vitamins can have an iron-like taste to them, which is similar to the taste of blood. Taking these medication frequently or overdosing on them can leave the taste in your mouth.
5. Surgery
Surgery, especially one involving the mouth and sinuses, can often leave the taste of blood in the mouth.
6. Dry Mouth
As an interesting side effect, extreme dry mouth (usually caused by dehydration) can actually cause your taste buds to malfunction and no longer recognize tastes and flavors. This may cause some substances to taste like iron or blood.
7. Illness
Illnesses of the nose, throat, and sinuses can trigger a blood-like taste in your mouth in a few different ways. Much like a dry mouth, it can stop your taste buds from functioning properly, leading to the blood taste. Sinus infections can also cause blood in the mucus, which can also lead to the blood taste. If you can honestly say, “When I cough I taste blood” or “I taste blood when I cough,” these illnesses are most often to blame.
8. Stomach Issues
Issues with digestion and peptic ulcers can lead to foul breath and tastes in the mouth, including the taste of blood.
Other issues that can cause the blood taste in your mouth can include:
- Iron or copper overdose
- Iodine intoxication
- Chronic alcoholism
- Food allergy
- Blood Taste in Mouth Symptoms
The symptoms of a bloody taste in the mouth are pretty intuitive. Not including the symptoms of the underlying cause of the taste of blood in the mouth, the main symptoms are a metallic taste or blood-like taste in the mouth. It can be present in swallowing or even while the mouth is not performing any action at all. It is certainly not pleasant, but you may be able to get rid of it when it happens or prevent it from occurring altogether.
Blood Taste in Mouth Remedies
There are a few remedies that can help you when your mouth tastes like blood, some of which you may never have considered.
1. Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene can play a big part in the origin of blood taste in the mouth due to gum disease, tooth decay, and other similar mouth issues. Many of these issues can be remedied with good oral hygiene. Proper brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and maintenance are necessary for proper oral health. You can also try to brush your teeth with baking soda, as that may neutralize the acid/metallic taste in your mouth.
2. Double Check Your Medications
If it’s medications that are contributing to the iron taste in your mouth, you may want to re-examine them with your doctor. There may be certain drugs you can switch to that will alleviate the blood taste in your mouth. This should only be done under medical supervision, as you don’t want to cause any ill effects to your health.
3. Switch Your Utensils
Reducing your contact with metal utensils may also lead to reducing the metallic taste in the mouth. Plastic and or utensils made of bone are recommended.
4. Cloves and Cinnamon
Cloves and cinnamon could help you get rid of the blood taste in your mouth. Take a few cloves or cinnamon sticks into your mouth when the blood taste arises. However, you should not chew the cloves or cinnamon; just keep them in your mouth until the blood taste disappears.
5. Get Your Stomach Checked Out
If you think that stomach issues are causing the blood taste in your mouth, make sure to have your particular condition examined by a health professional. If the issues aren’t very serious, the taste may be cleared up with something as simple as an over-the-counter drug.
It is important to note that if the taste of blood in your mouth does not go away or you have noticed a physical change in your mouth or tongue, a doctor’s visit is in order. An inspection will confirm that there isn’t a medical issue and that the blood taste isn’t the sign of a larger problem.
Unpleasant but Treatable
The taste of blood is not pleasant in the least. It is metallic and nauseating for some. But, although this may seem like a horrible issue, the most likely suspects are very easy to treat. Hopefully, with the help of this article, you will be able to not only track down what is causing the foul taste in your mouth, but you will also be able to treat that ugly taste in an easy and quick fashion.
Related Articles:
Swollen Taste Buds: Causes and Natural Treatment Tips
Loss of Taste (Impaired Taste): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
How to Reduce the Metallic Taste in Mouth
Sources :
Nick, “Blood Taste in Mouth Symptoms: Causes of Bloody Tasting in Mouth,” Tandurust, July 7, 2011; http://www.tandurust.com/health-faq-7/blood-taste-in-mouth-signs-and-causes.html, last accessed July 4, 2017.
“Blood Taste in Mouth,” Lifestyle Karma; http://www.lifestylekarma.com/2012/01/05/blood-taste-in-mouth/, last accessed July 4, 2017.
“Blood Taste in Mouth,” Buzzle; http://www.buzzle.com/articles/blood-taste-in-mouth.html, last accessed July 4, 2017.