Do not ignore that sour taste in your mouth

Do not ignore that sour taste in your mouth
May 28 12:30 2020 by admin Print This Article

Introduction:

Once in a while, we all experience that feeling of a bitter and sour taste in the mouth. This can happen because of the food or beverages that we have consumed in the last couple of hours.

However, if a sour taste or bitter taste in your mouth is occurring frequently, it should not be ignored, as that’s indicative of a larger health issue.

The human digestive system is a complex one and is easily affected by changes occurring in one or more systems or organs of the body. This means, there are various reasons for that sour or bitter taste in your mouth. Each one of those reasons has its own method for diagnosing and treating it. These can be divided into four major reasons.

Reasons for Sour or Bitter Taste in your Mouth

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GERD – Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease
In people who are suffering from gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD, the LES opens abnormally allowing food to enter the esophagus from the stomach.
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gastro
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Medications
Medications being taken for other ailments can leave residual medicine in the mouth, or affect the taste receptors in the brain or tongue. These can cause a sour taste in the mouth.
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Vitamin Deficiency and Anaemia
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Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is one of those minerals that the body needs in small quantities for good health.
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Diabetes friendly lunch options
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Other Causes
There are innumerable other conditions or causes for the sour and bitter taste in the mouth.
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Healthy dinner options
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#1 – GERD – Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease

Food passes from the mouth to a narrow tube called the esophagus and from there to the stomach where the process of digestion begins. There is a small valve at the beginning of the stomach which ensures food does not go back into the esophagus from the stomach. The valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. In people who are suffering from gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD, the LES opens abnormally allowing food to enter the esophagus from the stomach.

GERD causes various symptoms such as:

  • Heartburn
  • Chest pain
  • Sour or bitter taste
  • Bad breath
  • Burning sensation in the throat
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • A lump like feeling in the throat
  • Coughing
  • Hoarse voice
  • Chest pain

There are many causes of GERD and these include:

  • Heavy eating
  • Acidic food
  • Fatty food
  • Regular consumption of caffeine
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Regular smoking
  • Pregnancy
  • Obesity

#2 – Medications

Medications being taken for other ailments can leave residual medicine in the mouth, or affect the taste receptors in the brain or tongue. These can cause a sour taste in the mouth. The Canadian Family Physician, a popular medical journal, had published an article which states that there are over 250 different drugs that can cause a sour taste in the mouth. These can be classified as:

  • Antibiotics: These are the most common culprit. Examples include sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, trimethoprim, ampicillin, metronidazole, etc.
  • Drugs that are given as part of chemotherapy such as etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin
  • Drugs are given for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, migraine, etc. and some muscle relaxants
  • Drugs are given for cardiovascular conditions such as high BP, irregular heartbeat, diuretics, statins, etc
  • Prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as antihistamines, bronchodilators and those for inflammation, smoking de-addiction, fungal and viral infections
  • Drugs are given for psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, as well as mood stabilizers and hypnotics.

#3 – Zinc Deficiency

Zinc is one of those minerals that the body needs in small quantities for good health. These come from the food we consume such as:

  • Red meat
  • Shellfish
  • Dairy
  • Nuts
  • Beans
  • Oysters
  • Legumes
  • Certain vegetables

Zinc deficiency can occur due to the following reasons:

  • If the person is not getting enough zinc from the diet.
  • The zinc is not being absorbed properly by the intestines.
  • The person is on medications that interfere with zinc absorption.
  • Medications that inhibit zinc absorption include:
    • thiazide diuretics
    • captopril (an ACE inhibitor)
    • penicillamine

These drugs are used to treat a wide range of ailments such as cancer, diabetes, liver disease, celiac disease, chronic kidney disease, pancreatitis, sickle-cell disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

One of the symptoms of zinc deficiency is a sour taste in the mouth.

#4 – Causes for the sour and bitter taste in the mouth

There are innumerable other conditions or causes for the sour and bitter taste in the mouth, some of them being:

  • Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect the taste buds over time and make the food less tasty
  • Some people suffer from decreased saliva production which creates wrong perceptions of taste. Also called Xerostomia or dry mouth syndrome
  • Xerostomia can be caused by dehydration, which makes dehydration also a cause for sour taste in the mouth.
  • Anxiety and stress can trigger the dry mouth syndrome
  • Various infections or illnesses cause inflammation which can heighten the sense of sour or bitter taste, or create wrong perceptions of taste
  • Fungal infections in the mouth such as oral candidiasis
  • Similarly, not brushing regularly or maintaining poor dental hygiene can create a sour or bitter taste in the mouth
  • In women, pregnancy and menopause are known to trigger a sour taste in the mouth., due to hormonal changes
  • Menopause, which, like pregnancy, may cause a sour taste in the mouth. due to changes in hormone levels
  • Injuries or surgery of the brain can affect the region that controls the perception of taste and create wrong perceptions of taste
  • Neurologic disorders such as dementia, Bell’s palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis as well as tumors in the brain
  • Radiation therapy given for treating cancers of the head and neck can damage salivary tissues and cause a sour taste in the mouth.
  • Lead poisoning comes from water or air excessively contaminated with lead
  • Syndromes that are not fully understood such as pine nut syndrome or burning mouth syndrome

Seek Expert Help

As you can infer from the above, recurring incidents of a sour taste in the mouth is not a simple condition that can be relieved by home remedies or antacids. Consult a gastroenterologist in a reputed hospital for the same. He/she will diagnose the underlying condition carefully and then prescribe the right course of treatment for the best results.


Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801

 

Updated on 22nd Jan 2024

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23 Comments

  1. Fitness health forever
    December 15, 11:28 #1 Fitness health forever

    First of all congrats for this blog and such a nice logo starr struck also post is too informative.
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    Reply to this comment
  2. Lali
    January 26, 17:51 #2 Lali

    I am having bitter taste and back of the head pain.platelets is high.which dr can I consult.

    Reply to this comment
  3. Sour mouth
    February 07, 20:47 #3 Sour mouth

    If the cause of the sour taste in my mouth is not brushing enough then is it a dangerous thing or do I just need to brush more to reverse it.

    Reply to this comment
    • Kauvery
      January 28, 09:25 Kauvery

      Consult a gastroenterologist by calling 04440006000. He/she will diagnose the underlying condition carefully and then prescribe the right course of treatment for the best results.

      Reply to this comment
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    February 16, 01:15 #5 Antwan

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  6. Rodney
    February 16, 09:17 #6 Rodney

    Nice post.

    Reply to this comment
  7. Kaylee
    February 24, 19:40 #7 Kaylee

    Keеp this going pleasе, great job!

    Reply to this comment
  8. Prajwal
    April 13, 12:49 #8 Prajwal

    I am tasting only sour taste why

    Reply to this comment
  9. Kumaran
    April 30, 03:23 #9 Kumaran

    For past one month my tongue having burning sensation,took antibiotic for six days but results same

    Reply to this comment
  10. Laddu
    May 20, 16:18 #10 Laddu

    My tongue is sour tasting since few months why and what to do

    Reply to this comment
  11. Clemencia Moine
    September 10, 21:07 #11 Clemencia Moine

    its amazing

    Reply to this comment
  12. Margart Matlick
    September 29, 18:36 #12 Margart Matlick

    its amazing your work

    Reply to this comment
  13. Carolyne Franze
    October 04, 22:27 #13 Carolyne Franze

    Your work its amazing

    Reply to this comment
  14. salwa
    December 10, 12:25 #14 salwa

    i have sour taste coming my mouth

    Reply to this comment
  15. Caffy
    May 30, 21:35 #15 Caffy

    I am thirsty all the time and have a sour taste in my mouth. I have had all the relevan blood tests but nothing obvious. I do have laryngopharyngeal reflux disease being treated with omeprazole for 4 years. I take Gaviscon as well. Chewing gum relieves it temporarily better than drinking water. Blood pressure is only slightly raised now and again. I don’t smoke.

    Reply to this comment
  16. Ranjit
    May 30, 23:57 #16 Ranjit

    I got very sour taste in my mouth even my teeth felt the sour

    Reply to this comment
  17. PadmanabhanG
    February 27, 09:09 #17 PadmanabhanG

    Am facing taste disorder problem for the last 2 months. Earlier it was salty and sticky salaiva. Now it’s turned to bitter. ENT gave vitamin and anti allergic but if no use Whom to consult.

    Reply to this comment
  18. Christine
    October 11, 11:32 #18 Christine

    I have been experiencing dry mouth with a metallic taste.

    Reply to this comment

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