Abnormal Taste

Taste is a chemical sense that is activated during eating and drinking. Reasons for a loss of taste include:

• A person may lose their sense of taste if the facial nerve is damaged in some way. For example, Bell's palsy may stop the facial nerve working properly and prevent or reduce chewing function. It is uncommon for every taste nerve (bitter, salty, sweet and sour) to be affected.
• The autoimmune disorder known as Sjogren's syndrome causes reduced saliva production, which in turn reduces the sense of taste. This is because the taste buds can only detect flavor when food is properly mixed with saliva.
• Glossodynia, a condition characterized by a burning sensation on the tongue, is also linked to loss of taste in some cases.
• Some medications can result in an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth, such as tetracycline, lithium carbonate and captopril.

Diagnosis Methods

Depending on the disorder under investigation, diagnosis methods can include:

• Physical examination
• Salivary gland tests
• Biopsy.

Treatment Options

Depending on the disorder and cause, treatment options can include:

• Abnormal Taste - treatment for the underlying disorder, such as an artificial saliva spray or gel for Sjogren's syndrome.
• Sore tongue - avoid hot, spicy or acidic food and drinks until the injury heals; wear a mouth guard at night to prevent tongue trauma from bruxing; dermatological treatment for the skin disorder; treatment for the underlying disorder such as iron supplements for iron-deficiency anaemia; better management of diabetes under medical supervision.
• Black hairy tongue - greater attention to oral hygiene; brushing the tongue every time the teeth are brushed; regular scraping of the tongue with a special tongue-scraper, often in conjunction with a mild bleaching solution; stopping smoking.
• Glossodynia - treatment of underlying disorders such as improved diet; topical anaesthetic creams; avoidance of irritants; surgery on the lingual nerve if damage is the cause.
• Benign migratory glossitis - topical anaesthetic creams and prescription drugs including steroids.
• Tongue-tie - this condition usually resolves by the age of two or three years, which means the frenum 'loosens' or recedes by itself, given time. In persistent cases, the child may need to have an operation to release the tongue.