It’s common for taste buds to change as you age, but sometimes ongoing changes in taste can be signs of health conditions. One of these occurrences is a persistent salty taste. If your mouth tastes salty when you haven’t eaten salty foods or food with other flavor profiles just tastes salty to you, it’s worth considering whether there’s an underlying cause
Waking up with a salty taste in the mouth can be annoying for most people – especially when we don’t know its cause. Having a salty taste in the mouth is a common problem that can occur for many reasons.
Here are some common causes why people experience a salty taste in their mouth:
1Oral bleeding Due to bleeding, you can have a metallic or salty taste in your mouth. If you accidentally cut your tongue or cheek by eating sharp or crunchy foods, it can cause bleeding and a salty taste. Furthermore, if you brush too hard, your gums can bleed, resulting in a salty taste in the mouth.
2Dehydration Dehydration can cause a salty taste in your mouth. If you exercise daily, you might need to drink plenty of water, and failing to do so will likely cause a salty taste in your mouth. Diarrhea and vomiting can also make you dehydrated, resulting in such taste. So, if the salty taste in the mouth is because of dehydration, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
3Nutritional deficiencies If you experience a deficiency of nutrients like that of any vitamin, you might feel a salty taste in your mouth. Talk to your medical or dental professional about it.
4Postnasal drip Sinus infections and allergies can cause post nasal drips, creating a salty taste in the mouth. Mucus can build up on your throat, mixing with saliva to give a salty flavor.
5Dental appliance People with dentures may feel a salty taste because dentures have adhesives to keep them in place. So if you had dental work and feel a salty flavor, it might be due to your dental appliance.
6Acid reflux Some people experience a salty flavor in their mouths due to acid reflux. Talk to your doctor if that’s the case for you, as acid reflux can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health concern.
7Sjögren syndrome This illness is linked to your body’s immune system. This condition can trigger dry eyes, disrupt the glands responsible for moisture, and create a salty taste in the mouth. This is where your immune system attacks the glands responsible for making moisture in your body. It is commonly accompanied by other autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
8Chemotherapy side effects
9Side effects of some medication
To treat a salty taste in the mouth, you first need to find the exact cause. Once you find that out, it becomes easy to treat the issue. Here are some solutions that will work depending on the cause:
• Drink plenty of water and juices, and avoid excessive sweating if you experience a salty taste due to dehydration.
• Talk to your doctor if a specific medication makes your mouth feel salty. They might replace your medicine.
• Antihistamines can help if the salty taste is due to postnasal drip caused by allergies.
• Antacids can treat acid reflux if the salty taste is due to this condition.
• If the salty taste is due to oral infection or gum disease, schedule an appointment with us to prevent worsening the situation.
To find the exact cause and improve your oral condition, contact us and our oral medicine specialist will help you in no time!