My anxiety increased substantially last Feb. 2023, when I experienced substantial pain and stress from a series of dental issues. I have excellent dental health, but encountered issues due to an upper tooth that was improperly filled. I then had an extracted wisdom tooth, fractured root nerve, root canal and bone graft to prepare for a dental implant. (Haven’t gotten the implant) In the bone graft, they insert cadaver material into your jaw. I healed well from those procedures, but felt like I had PTSD from the sustained pain and stress for several months. Plus, the out of pocket costs were substantial. I’ve talked to my dentist about it and they have no ideas. So, it being a cause has entered my mind.

I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 20 years, but I’ve never read about another type 1 encountering this. My numbers are pretty good. I have no eye or kidney damage from it.

I do have other autoimmune issues, hypothyroidism (treated with med) and psoriasis. Both are mild.

I’ve told my doctors this, but they don’t comment. Right before my severe taste started there were a series of mini events. I had been prescribed an antifungal cream and body wash/shampoo for a topical yeast infection. It’s called tinea versicolor.
https://www.healthline.com/health/tinea-versicolor
The cream cleared it on my neck, but I wanted to use body wash/shampoo to ensure I didn’t get it on my body or scalp. The first time I used the prescribed anti fungal body wash/shampoo on my scalp, I got a metallic taste in my mouth. Same thing happened when i used it as body wash in shower. I thought it was odd. Then one day I used body wash on my lower legs, same thing. THAT same day, I took one antibiotic pill. It was for a suspected UTI, that turned out to not be one, but an hour after taking the antibiotic the overwhelming metallic taste hit! I was driving, pulled over and called the urgent care office that prescribed it to report it. They said it happens with antibiotics sometimes. I stopped taking it the next day, The taste has never left. That was September 2023.

I also had just had covid. My ENT says I also have smell disorder. I did series of smell tests. And that both are due to covid. Doctors don’t think the meds are related despite my account of how it started. So…..I’m desperate for anything that helps.

I was prescribed Gabapentin and Lexapro, but can’t take Gabapentin due to blurry vision. Trying to avoid Lexapro due to potential side effects. I see a therapist every 2 weeks and that really helps my stress! I would take Lexapro, if I thought it would stop the bitter taste.

I don’t have implants, but do have upper porcelain veneers that I got 14 years ago and the dental bone graft from last April.

Are there top experts on this kind of thing? I read that my ENT is supposed to be, but….idk. He didn’t seem to have much to say about it.

Did your salty taste start gradually or sudden?