Why is There a Bitter Taste in Your Mouth?

As you likely already know, it isn’t odd to occasionally taste something bitter, sour, or just plain bad. That kind of experience is a normal and harmless part of day-to-day life. Even so, you should take a persistent bitter taste in your mouth more seriously. This oral sensation could point to a serious dental issue, which would put your smile at risk. To learn more, here’s what a bitter mouth taste can mean and why it deserves a dentist’s help.

What’s a Bitter Mouth Taste?

Also known as dysgeusia, a persistent and bitter mouth taste has three key traits. These are:

• A Bitter Flavor – Patients with dysgeusia describe the taste in their mouths as salty, metallic, and bitter.  
• Long Duration – Most cases of dysgeusia stick around for long periods, even when you haven’t eaten anything recently.
• Lack of Home Remedies – Brushing one’s teeth doesn’t usually get rid of dysgeusia.

The Causes of Bitter Mouth Taste

Though not always, a bitter mouth taste can point to harsh oral problems at times. Some examples of these include:

Poor Oral Hygiene

People who don’t look after their smiles well can develop a bitter taste. After all, foul-tasting plaque will slowly but surely build up if you don’t brush or floss enough. The resulting taste would even count as a danger to your mouth; it’d indicate you have a high risk of cavities and gum disease.

A Dry Mouth

In other cases, the taste could stem from a dry mouth. It wouldn’t be surprising if saliva removes various bad-tasting microbes from your tongue. As for the cause of dry mouth, factors like medications, tobacco smoking, and even aging can trigger the problem.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

A bitter taste may even result from burning mouth syndrome. The latter issue causes a burning sensation in your mouth, which is often accompanied by a rancid taste. Such symptoms usually appear sporadically (if at all), but they can also be chronic and persist for long periods.

Why See a Dentist for Help?

It’s best to see a dentist when you have a persistent bitter mouth taste. In general, they can quickly solve the problem and put your smile on the right track.

Most dentists can now treat a bitter mouth taste. For example, one of their methods is to prescribe a mouthwash that stimulates saliva flow; this product would ease any taste stemming from dry mouth. Alternatively, a dentist could offer a dental crown or filling if the taste is caused by a cavity. Another option is to clean out bad-tasting gums with gum disease treatment.

Though the taste in your mouth is often harmless, you should still be careful. See your dental provider to confirm if the cause is something serious!

About the Practice

Rubal Dentistry Azle is based in Azle, TX. Led by Drs. Frank and Jodie Rubal, our practice strives to make dental care easy and smooth for every patient. To that end, we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your smile’s needs. This approach ensures you and your family get the thriving grins you all deserve! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (817)-444-2585.