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Have you ever had a bitthttps://i.imgur.com/1AQikP5.jpger mouth when you were sick? This of course affects appetite and even makes you nauseous. In fact, you need nutrients from food to help the recovery process. This condition is normal. So, what is the cause? How to get rid of the bitter taste on the tongue when sick? To find out the answer, see the following review.
Causes of a bitter mouth when sick
When sick, the tongue will be more sensitive to bitter tastes. This happens because during an infection or certain medical conditions, the body naturally releases proteins made by certain cells in the body to deal with inflammation.
Quoted from the journal Science Daily, the protein that is released is what affects the sense of taste, making you more sensitive to bitter tastes when you are sick. A bitter taste in the mouth, or an impaired sense of taste, is known as dysgeusia.
The presence of infection in the body can also cause swelling. This swelling causes the blood flow to the taste buds to be blocked so that the perception of taste changes. This swelling can also be the cause of a bitter mouth when sick.
In addition, when you are sick you tend to take drugs and supplements which can also affect the bitter taste on the tongue.
After the body absorbs a certain drug, the remnants of the drug can be excreted in the saliva. Especially, if the drug or supplement has a bitter or metallic element. This can leave a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth.
Several types of drugs are taken when sick that can leave a bitter taste in the mouth, including:
- Tetracycline antibiotics, amoxicillin, metronidazole
- Lithium for mood disorders in bipolar sufferers
- Diuretic drugs
- Some hypertension medications, such as captopril
- Some heart medications
- Vitamins and supplements containing zinc, chromium and copper
Bitter taste in the mouth when sick can also occur in patients with head and neck cancer as a side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
How to deal with bitter mouth when sick
The condition of the mouth is bitter when it can make no appetite. Not infrequently this condition makes you nauseous and vomiting. Though the intake of nutritious food is needed when sick to speed up recovery.
There are several ways to deal with a bitter mouth when you are sick, including:
- Drink more water. It helps you stay hydrated, helps improve taste when eating, and avoids dry mouth.
- Eat in small portions and often. This helps you avoid the possible taste changes that occur when you eat normal portions, and helps your body stay well-nourished
- Avoid foods with certain ingredients. Experts argue, eating foods that contain only a small amount of food ingredients can help overcome a bitter taste in the mouth. Because, some foods that are mixed together can cause an unpleasant taste on the tongue.
- Drink tea with mint leaves or ginger water. Besides being able to relieve bitterness and nausea, drinking ginger can also help overcome inflammation.
- Eat acidic foods. These types of foods can stimulate the appetite and increase salivation, such as citrus fruits, lemons, yogurt, or pickles. Do not overdo it, acidic foods can also trigger an increase in stomach acid which worsens the condition of a bitter mouth.
- Avoid spicy and fatty foods. Spicy and fatty foods can trigger stomach acid to rise or GERD to recur so that the mouth tastes bitter when the pain gets worse.
- Quit smoking and drinking alcohol. This can trigger dry mouth and make bitter mouth conditions worse.
- Keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Brushing your teeth twice a day and using dental flossing can prevent your mouth from feeling bitter when the pain gets worse.
- Consult a doctor regarding medications or supplements. Your doctor may give you a substitute for some medications and supplements that can trigger a bitter taste in your mouth.
