What causes dysgeusia?

What causes dysgeusia?

It's important to mention that the most common cause by and large is loss of sense of smell. This is particularly seen with COVID-19 infections. There are other different factors that can lead to the development of dysgeusia:

Infections

People who develop a bacterial, viral or fungal infection of the gums, mouth or throat may experience swelling. This swelling can lead to reduced blood flow to the taste buds, altering your sense of taste. Loss of taste or altered sense of taste is also a key symptom of COVID-19.

Medications and treatments

Several medications can affect your sense of taste. Some of the most common include amoxicillin, metronidazole, diuretics, calcium channel blockers and some blood pressure medications such as captopril. Altered taste is also a major side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, particularly when treating head and neck cancers.

Conditions

A number of health conditions can result in dysgeusia, including:

• Dry mouth (xerostomia): There are many factors that can cause dry mouth, including some medications, Sjogren's syndrome or radiation therapy for cancer. Without enough saliva production, your taste receptors may not be stimulated.
• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies: People who have zinc or vitamin B deficiencies are especially prone to loss of taste.
• Inflammation: Any condition that results in inflammation of the tongue can affect your taste receptors.
• Nerve damage: Some nerves are responsible for taste sensations. When these nerves are damaged, it can lead to dysgeusia. Other dysgeusia causes related to nerve damage include ear surgery, neck surgery and Bell’s palsy.
• GERD (chronic acid reflux): When stomach acid enters the mouth, it can affect your taste function. For this reason, some people with GERD develop dysgeusia.
• Neurologic disorders: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) have been associated with dysgeusia.
• Metabolic disorders: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease and other metabolic conditions can cause dysgeusia.
• Dental prosthesis: In the elderly the prosthesis can cover the soft palate and inhibit the activity of taste receptors.

Pregnancy

Dysgeusia during pregnancy is common, usually due to a surge of hormones. Symptoms typically go away on their own after the first trimester.

Tobacco use

Chemicals found in tobacco products can cause changes in your taste function. The surfaces of the tongue and throat also undergo changes as a result of tobacco use, altering your perception of taste.

Aging

Aging can also lead to changes in your sense of taste. However, anosmia (loss of smell) is more common than dysgeusia as we grow older.