Blood Taste in Mouth

Once in a while, we all have got taste of blood inside our mouth after biting the tongue accidentally. It tastes more like a metal because of the iron present in blood as a component of hemoglobin. The taste of blood in the mouth is caused due to this kind of minor injury often subsides as soon as the wound heals.

However, there are some people who get this taste all the time. As a result, they cannot feel the taste of the food that they are eating. If it continues for a long time, they lose their appetite and it takes a toll on their health. This is an indication that there is some underlying problem.

There are several factors that can trigger this problem. Some of them are serious while others are not. Some key characteristics of various causes of blood taste in mouth are discussed here.

Nasal Congestion: The sense of smell and the perception of taste are closely related. You cannot get proper taste of food unless and until you smell the food. When you have lost the smelling sensation due to stuffy nose, then you may feel such a strange taste in your mouth. It often happens when you have cold and flu, strep throat, sinus infection or nasal polyps.

Bleeding Gums: This is a sign of lack of proper oral hygiene. As a result, the bacteria existing inside the mouth start growing uncontrollably and irritate the gums. This condition is called gingivitis, which results in gum inflammation and bleeding occurs from the gums. An infected tooth can also be responsible for bleeding gums. Other symptoms of this kind of oral infection include bad breath, gum pain, toothache, etc.

Side Effects of Medicines: There are a number of medicines and nutritional supplements, which when taken for some time, give a metallic taste in the mouth. Some of them are iron supplements, prenatal vitamins, certain antibiotics, hypertension medication, etc. The blood taste inside the mouth will be gone once you stop taking such medicines. Similarly, patients who have undergone surgery get a blood like taste in mouth soon after the procedure. Here, it is actually the effect of the anesthesia, which was used before the surgery.

Mouth Dryness: Saliva inside the mouth helps you to feel the sense of taste. When the mouth becomes dry because of some reason, then there will be loss of sensation of taste. Dehydration is one of the causes of dryness in mouth. Breathing through the mouth can also dry up the saliva and you may feel such a peculiar taste in the mouth. Asthma patients tend to get blood taste in the mouth because of this reason.

Other Causes: Patients suffering from kidney stones, diabetes, cancer and heart disease often complain about blood like taste in mouth. If you suffer injury to the head or nose that has a damaging effect on those nerves that help you to feel the sense of taste, then you may develop this problem.

When you feel taste of blood in the mouth, then your first priority should be maintaining a good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth two times in a day. Brushing the teeth with a combination of baking soda and salt is quite helpful in getting rid of the unpleasant taste in mouth.

This will neutralize the effect of acid formed inside the mouth during breaking down of food components. Thus, it fights off oral infections. Those of you who have the problem of infected tooth must consult a dentist who will guide you about the course of dental treatment needed.

If you are dealing with upper respiratory tract infection, then get appropriate treatment for that particular condition. Once you recover from it, the blood taste will disappear from the mouth.

There are certain foods that can lessen this problem to some extent. They are citrus juices, fruit smoothies, peanut butter, foods marinated in vinegar, etc. So, you can include these foods in your daily diet to get some relief.

A bloody taste in mouth is one such problem that should not be taken lightly. If it persists for more than two weeks, then you must go to the doctor to find out its cause. The doctor can provide with you effective solutions. In case, it is a side effect of a medicine, he/she may change it. Still, there are some cases where nothing can be done to alleviate the taste. Such people should use mint, clove or cinnamon to get some temporary relief.