Where does the sour taste in the mouth come from and what to do with it

If the sour taste appears in your mouth only once and disappears quickly, treat it as an accident. But if a strange gustatory sensation haunts you over and over again, it is important to understand why this is happening. This will help you not to miss dangerous complications.

Experts from the American medical organization Cleveland Clinic listSour Taste in Your Mouth? Here Are the 7 Most Common Causes / Cleveland Clinic the seven most common causes of a sour taste in the mouth.

1. You don't brush your teeth well

A familiar nuisance to many: you left some food warm and it sour. Food debris stuck between teeth or in tiny cavities can behave the same way. A side effect of spoiled pieces is a sour taste in the mouth.

What to do

Strictly observe oral hygiene: brush your teeth in the morning and evening for at least 2 minutes at a time. If you are not sure if you are cleaning the gaps between your teeth, use dental floss.

2. Do you smoke

Nicotine in cigarette smoke reducesFabrice Chéruel, Marta Jarlier, and Hélène Sancho-Garnier. Effect of cigarette smoke on gustatory sensitivity, evaluation of the deficit and of the recovery time-course after smoking cessation / Tobacco Induced Diseases taste sensitivity and leads to changes in taste. Including an unpleasant sour tint may occur.

What to do

Consider the appearance of a sour taste as another reason to quit smoking. If you quit nicotine, your taste sensation will begin to recover within two weeks.

3. You are lacking in fluid

With a lack of moisture in the body, the production of saliva decreases. The mouth dries up, and this can affect the taste. In particular, a sticky feeling and a distinct sourness often appear.

What to do

Avoid dehydration. Try to drink at least 6-8 glasses of liquid (water, compotes, fruit drinks, tea) daily. As an express method, you can use sugar-free chewing gum: chewing will increase the production of saliva.

4. You have a cold or sinus infection

Diseases such as ARVI and sinusitis are also able to change taste sensations. The result is a sour taste in the mouth.

What to do

The sourness will disappear by itself as soon as you recover. Usually deliverance from an acute viral infection takes about 7 days: basically, it is enough just to rest more - and the body will cope with the disease on its own. In case of sinusitis and other sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), it is worth contacting a therapist.

5. You have heartburn or GERD

Heartburn appears due to the fact that gastric juice rises into the esophagus and irritates its walls. This leads to a burning sensation behind the breastbone and sometimes a sour taste in the mouth.

From time to time, everyone faces heartburn. But if such attacks are repeated several times a week, doctors sayHeartburn and acid reflux / NHS about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

What to do

If you suspect you have GERD, see your doctor or gastroenterologist. Often, lifestyle adjustments help to cope with persistent heartburn: reduce the amount of servings, give up oily and fried food, try not to eat a few hours before bed and sleep on a pillow so that your head is above chest level cells. However, in some cases, the only way to overcome gastroesophageal reflux disease is with medication.

Also, keep in mind that GERD is not the only possible diagnosis. Regular heartburn can manifest itself and much more dangerous diseases.Heartburn and Acid Reflux: What You Need to Know / Cedars ‑ Sinai Blog: angina pectoris, hiatal hernia or even esophageal cancer. Therefore, it is important not to endure and consult a doctor.

When you figure out and cure, or at least correct the underlying disease, the sour taste in your mouth will disappear.

6. You are taking certain medications

Antibiotics can cause a sour taste. And even some over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines.

What to do

Wait. The bad taste will disappear when you stop taking the drug. If for some reason you have to use medications on a regular basis, talk to your doctor. There may be an alternative with a less pronounced side effect.

7. You are getting old

Due to age-related changes, the taste buds on the tongue lose sensitivity and can trick you, creating new sensations.

What to do

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to return to food the bright rich taste, as in youth. But talk to your therapist to see if they can suggest ways to reduce the sour taste in your mouth.

Ekaterina Komissarova