What Causes A Bad Taste In Your Mouth?

A bad taste in your mouth that lasts even after you have brushed your teeth could be due to the following causes:

Poor oral hygiene and dental problems Dry mouth Oral thrush

Respiratory infections like sinusitis, colds, tonsillitis, etc. Hepatitis Pregnancy Menopause Acid reflux

Dietary or vitamin supplements Medications like antihistamines, diabetes medicines, oral contraceptives, antibiotics, antidepressants, etc.

Chemotherapy Radiation therapy

Conditions that affect the nerves in your brain, like:

Brain tumors Dementia Head injury or trauma Epilepsy

If you often have a bad taste in your mouth, you may also experience a few of the following symptoms, depending on the underlying cause.

Signs And Symptoms

Individuals who suffer from oral problems may notice symptoms like:

Bad breath Bleeding gums Red or swollen tissues in the mouth Tooth sensitivity

Other symptoms that may be prevalent in individuals who also have a bad taste in their mouth are:

Nausea Vomiting Loss of taste Difficulty in eating Diarrhea Bad breath

These symptoms could be traced to causes like acid reflux, hepatitis, respiratory infections, or oral thrush. Since the bad taste in your mouth can interfere with your appetite and cause nutritional deficiencies, it is best to get this condition treated immediately. To help you with the same, here are some effective home remedies.

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Bad Taste In The Mouth

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 1 glass of warm water

You must do this once daily. Apple cider vinegar is acidic. It helps in restoring the pH balance of your mouth, promoting your oral health. This remedy also stimulates the production of saliva that helps in getting rid of the foul taste (1).

2. Baking Soda

1 teaspoon of baking soda Lemon juice (a few drops)

Do this once daily. The alkaline nature of baking soda can help in restoring the pH of your mouth. Its exfoliating properties can also help in getting rid of the plaque deposits on your tongue and teeth, thus helping with the foul taste or smell (2).

3. Oil Pulling

1 tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil You must do this once every morning. Oil pulling helps in plaque removal and addresses various oral conditions (like oral thrush, bad breath, and gingivitis) that may be causing a foul taste in your mouth (3).

4. Warm Salt Water

1 teaspoon of salt 1 glass of warm water

You must do this 2 to 3 times daily. Salt has natural antiseptic properties that can prevent the build-up of infectious oral bacteria. Regularly rinsing your mouth with the salt solution can help eliminate the foul taste and smell of your mouth (4).

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution 2 tablespoons of water A soft bristle brush

You must do this once daily. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong antibacterial agent that combats the infectious oral pathogens that could be causing your mouth to taste weird. It provides a healthy oral environment by eliminating bad bacteria (5).

6. Aloe Vera Juice

1 teaspoon of fresh aloe juice Do this twice daily. Aloe vera juice has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities that heal oral infections and treat the foul taste and smell that accompany such oral problems (6).

7. Turmeric

½ teaspoon of turmeric powder A few drops of lemon juice

Do this once daily for about 2 weeks to see the desired effects. Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antibacterial agent that kills all the bad bacteria in your mouth, promotes oral health, and eliminates the bad taste (7).

8. Lemon

1 lemon 1 glass of warm water

Do this once daily for at least a week to start seeing results. The vitamin C in lemons restores the lost pH of your mouth. Also, the bactericidal activities of lemon can keep oral pathogens away, thus preventing further oral problems (8), (9).

9. Green Tea

1 teaspoon of green tea 1 cup of water Honey (optional)

You must drink green tea at least twice daily to avail all its benefits. Green tea is a great remedy for oral infections. Along with promoting oral health, green tea can also help eliminate the bad taste and foul smell in your mouth (10).

10. Cinnamon

½ tablespoon of cinnamon powder ½ lemon 1 glass of warm water

You must do this 2 to 3 times daily. Cinnamon is yet another remedy that can help eliminate the bad taste in your mouth, owing to its antibacterial properties. It can easily combat oral infections and promote your overall oral health by eliminating oral pathogens (11). Your diet choices have a significant role to play in your health and well-being. They are also critical to help you overcome the bad taste in your mouth. Hence, you must take the following diet tips into consideration in addition to following these home remedies.

What To Eat To Get Rid Of Bad Taste In The Mouth

Those who have a bad taste in their mouth usually have a low sense of taste and may be intolerant to certain foods. Some foods that can be tolerated by affected individuals are:

Fresh fruit juices (orange or lemon) Eggs, fish, peanut butter, beans, and dairy products like yogurt and ice cream Hard candies

The affected individuals must stay away from spicy, sugary, and oily foods. To prevent the recurrence of a bad taste in your mouth, follow the tips mentioned below.

Prevention Tips

Brush and floss daily. Use a mouthwash to rinse your mouth regularly. Chew on sugar-free gum to encourage the production of saliva. Drink enough water and keep yourself hydrated. Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Quit smoking tobacco.

Is bad taste in the mouth a sign of diabetes? Yes, a bad or bitter-sweet taste in the mouth can also be a sign of diabetes. Get yourself diagnosed medically for a confirmation. Why do I have a rotten egg taste in my mouth? If your mouth tastes like rotten eggs, it could be due to either a gut infection or the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide gas (from something that you had eaten). What kills sulfur in the mouth? The bacteria in your mouth can feed on the leftover debris inside your mouth and generate foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds. To get rid of these toxic compounds, you must brush, floss, and use a mouthwash regularly. Does bad taste in mouth occur during pregnancy? A change in the sense of your taste (dysgeusia) can occur during pregnancy as a result of pregnancy hormones. Some pregnant women may experience a metallic or sour taste in the mouth even if they are not suffering from any specific medical condition. What cancers cause a metallic taste in your mouth? Lung cancer and its treatment might leave you with a metallic taste in your mouth. Can liver problems cause a metallic taste in the mouth? Although uncommon, liver disease may lead to a chemical buildup in the body and lead to a metallic taste in the mouth (the chemical compounds render saliva a metallic taste).