Do you have a bitter taste in your mouth? Maybe you have dysgeusia

Salty, sweet, sour, bitter, umami, fatty: these are the six tastes that are normally distinguished by human taste buds. In the case of dysgeusia, a disorder of taste perception, people who suffer from it can no longer sense these six flavours. On the contrary, they have a parasitic taste (bitter, metallic, sour, sweet, etc.) that persists in the mouth. This can be on a permanent basis or at the time of consuming all or part of the food according toGustav Rossi Institute.

Disorder of taste perception is associated with various factors

The causes are multiple: alteration of the oral flora (eg due to poor oral hygiene, a tumor in the throat or tongue, etc.), inflammation of the oral mucosa, destruction of taste buds by some chemical treatments, dry mouth and lack of salivation, decreased sense of smell (eg due to smoking). example).

“Approximately 1 in 6 people have a taste disorder at the time of diagnosis. their cancer, Explains the Gustave Rossi Institute. During treatment, this frequency increases because more than half of patients undergoing chemotherapy and more than 90% of patients receiving radiation therapy to the throat and mouth experience taste disturbances during treatment.“

Reducing the symptoms of this disorder

What do you do if you suffer from this disorder? The first thing to do is talk to your doctor about it because it could be a sign of a more serious disease, such as cancer. You have to understand why.

As for the symptoms, there is no cure for them. It is therefore essential to work on the factors: stopping – or reducing if quitting is difficult – tobacco, enjoying good oral hygiene (ideally, brushing your teeth three times a day, after each meal) and adapting your diet. To continue eating in adequate amounts despite the disorder, the Gustave Roussy Institute recommends splitting up food intake, trying different ways of preparing and cooking food or even adding flavor enhancers.