Taste Disorders

What are taste disorders?

A taste disorder is a condition that changes your normal sense of taste. A change in your sense of taste, which is closely connected to your sense of smell, may be temporary or permanent.

More than 2 million Americans suffer from some permanent smell or taste disorder. Most often, these disorders are not caused by other, more serious problems. However, the sudden loss of these senses can be a sign of a serious problem, such as a brain tumor. Although such serious problems are rare, you should report any change in taste or smell to your healthcare provider.

How does it occur?

Taste buds are special structures that pick up the taste of chemicals responsible for flavors when food or drink is dissolved in saliva. Most of your taste buds are on your tongue. There are a few in the back of your mouth.

The sense of taste is not as well developed as the sense of smell. Taste buds can distinguish only salty, sweet, sour, and bitter tastes. Flavors can be further distinguished because the sense of taste works with the sense of smell. A loss of the sense of smell almost always has a big effect on your ability to taste.

Your sense of taste is at its best between the ages of 30 and 60 years old. Around the age of 60, you start to lose your ability to taste, especially in the ability to taste sour and bitter. Because older adults can still taste salty and sweet things, they will sometimes add more sugar or salt to food in order to make their food taste better.

Aside from normal aging, a loss of the sense of taste can be caused by:

• dryness of the mouth
• disease of the gums or teeth
• tumors in the brain
• polyps in the nose
• sinus infection
• the common cold
• seasonal allergies
• head injury
• nerve damage
• exposure to chemicals
• medicines
• smoking
• radiation therapy.

Not much is known about what might cause an increased sense of taste.

What are the symptoms?

When you have a taste disorder, food and drink taste different than they used to. Some things may taste strange or have a metallic taste. Your sense of taste may be better or worse, or you may not be able to taste at all. If your sense of taste is lost or decreased, you may lose your interest in eating and your body may no longer get all of the nutrients it needs. This could cause symptoms of other medical problems.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and will examine you. Your ability to taste is tested by having you identify weak solutions of salt, sugar, and vinegar. Your provider will test different parts of your tongue.

Information that will help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis includes:

• when and what you taste
• how long you have had the problem
• whether the problem comes and goes
• what medicines you are taking.

How is it treated?

If an underlying cause can be found for the taste disorder, your provider will treat it. For example, if the taste disorder is caused by medicine, your provider may suggest that you change your dosage or stop taking the medicine. If the taste disorder is caused by dental problems, you will be referred to a dentist. If the problem is caused by a nose problem, medicines, such as nasal sprays, can help. Try a nasal salt-water washing first. Try steroid-containing nasal sprays for tougher allergies.

What can I do to help myself?

• If you smoke, quit.
• Make your food more appealing by adding extra herbs and spices. Avoid using too much sugar or salt.