Chronic salty taste

@neisie13 , Glad you get some relief with that med.

I didn’t think I had a smell problem either. In fact I insisted to the ENT intake nurse that I was fine with smell, but they insisted I be tested. Taste and smell are closely correlated. So, in the exam room they provide you wifh these booklets. Maybe 4-5. They each have about 10-20 pages. You rub off the designated sections and sniff them. There is a multiple choice of what the scent is. Like banana, pizza, popcorn, etc. I did terrible on the test. Officially smell disorder. I was shocked at how I really could not smell those samples. I then realized how I had been mistaking things….like I told my niece a vanilla cake was good, but it was lemon.

I returned about 6 months later and retook the same test. I did quite well and so much better than the first time. Officially my score was normal. I could literally feel the improvement. Still, my taste disorder remained. It’s better than it was, but still remains.
Oh, also when I saw the neurologist and ENT I had a recurring phantom smell that was quite pronounced. Like a sweet fabric softener. It was scary, because nothing around me smelled like that. I smelled it different places….I wasn’t using fabric softener. Eventually, the phantom smell disappeared.

@neisie13 I will ask the ENT to do a smell taste, at least to get a baseline. I am surprised he has never done one before since it seems to be pretty standard for patients with taste disorders. Now I can tell him that the neurologist is requesting it!! Have you managed to avoid getting Covid again? I have a friend who has an immune disorder and she just got Covid so they are watching her carefully. Okay, I guess we keep plugging away and hope to enjoy the nicer weather ahead!!

@neisie13 , even better news! I have improved since my post above from a month ago. It’s hardly noticeable now and most of the day I don’t think about it. I now believe it may return to normal entirely. I had almost lost hope. It started in September of 2023.

Best wishes to all of those who are dealing with this issue.

@celia16 Wow what great news. I hope you continue with the improvement and can finally put this behind you. I am still dealing with it, though since starting the duloxetine it is a bit better though far from normal. Hopefully in time mine too with start disappearing. Thank you for letting me know!!!

I still don’t know what caused it though. So many questions remain. This condition is just not fully appreciated by most people, including doctors. The constant emotional strain is enormous.

I have had a salty taste in my mouth for nearly 2 years and I can’t stand it!
Been to an ENT, Gastrointestinal, neurology, primary, and no one has answers.
I have had my B12 checked as well as magnesium and zinc. Everything is normal.
Even had dentist check to make sure it is not dental related....it's not.
We have even switched some medications that may have the side effect of salty taste in mouth to other meds and I have gotten no relief whatsoever.
I don't know where to turn and I am at my wits end!

@julzstark … stay strong julzstark! I wish I could tell you something positive but alas …!
I have had ‘salty’ for almost 7 yrs now and have been to all those (and more) physicians you mentioned with none having any clue as to cause and/or treatment.
I wish I didn’t have to say that it has been gradually getting worse but I can’t.
If by any chance you discover any viable relief please post it here asap as quite a few are searching.
Stay strong and keep fighting.

@julzstark I have the same thing problem, and it started after I had one of my teeth pulled. Nobody can tell me where it’s coming from either.

@julzstark

What works for me as per suggestions from my Oral Medicine Cancer Doc
I pop in a werther's butterscotch candy & or add lemon-lime to water or mineral water.
Try it, see how it works, do let us know.

Blah to salty days!

I have had that, and also a chemical taste when I use my night splint to help with grinding, drives me crazy.