Question From Our Member...

Question From Our Member:

B. Scott of Long Island, New York asks: 

I have a strange taste in my mouth and some pain from my tongue.  What could be causing it and what should I do?

Savon’s Answer

After doing some research, here is our best non–medical advice.

The most common causes of pain in the tongue can be from canker sores; cold sores; dehydration; dry mouth; fever (sickness); or thrush.  Thrush can appear as a white lesion that bleeds when scraped or as a red, roundish lesion.

Pain or burning of the tongue can also indicate a vitamin deficiency, such as B12 and/or vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B9.  Other pains in the tongue can be caused by more serious conditions such as oral cancers, which can appear as red and/or white lesions.

Complete loss of taste is called ageusia, partial loss of taste is called hypogeusia, and a distorted sense of taste is called dysgeusia.  The most common cause of strange taste is due to medications.

The most common peculiar taste is a metallic taste, which is associated with some forms of antibiotics, antihistamines, antifungals, antipsychotics, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, seizure medications, and Parkinson´s disease medications.

Other more common conditions that can change one´s taste are dry mouth, colds or flu, smoking, loss of smell, and nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12 and zinc).

If a sore does not go away fairly quickly or if you have a change of taste sensation and you are not taking any medications, we strongly suggest that you consult your dentist for an examination as soon as possible.

_{*The information provided in this answer was derived from “Perio–Implant Advisory”.}

_{**Original post was from our April 2020 Newsletter}