Chronic salty taste

I think it’s theorized the taste disorder could be nerve damage.

@celia16 I had an old root canal taken out, cleaned out and replaced with a new crown. I've never been the same since. I've had dry mouth, salty mouth, metal taste in my mouth. I've gained weight because the only time I'm not dealing with a crappy taste in my mouth is when food is in there. I've been to 5 dentists, 2 oral surgeons and 2 ENT's and an orthodontist. Five of these specialists said it was my TMJ. I was Furious. Finally, I talked to a friend who I knew had that and she said she had all the symptoms and had a night guard fitted. So, I did that and it's been about two weeks wearing it and it's NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS. I have no idea why. I try to not start chewing gum until after noon. If I put too much stuff in my mouth by night time it seems like it's worse. I have wrote so much on here about my mouth that someone told me I needed to organize my thoughts and figure out what was really wrong with me!!!! Anyhow, I'm telling you now that by wearing a night guard it stops your tongue from moving around and it calms the mouth down. Honestly, you have nothing to lose. I understand your frustration more than you know.

@celia16 I had an old root canal taken out, cleaned out and replaced with a new crown. I've never been the same since. I've had dry mouth, salty mouth, metal taste in my mouth. I've gained weight because the only time I'm not dealing with a crappy taste in my mouth is when food is in there. I've been to 5 dentists, 2 oral surgeons and 2 ENT's and an orthodontist. Five of these specialists said it was my TMJ. I was Furious. Finally, I talked to a friend who I knew had that and she said she had all the symptoms and had a night guard fitted. So, I did that and it's been about two weeks wearing it and it's NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS. I have no idea why. I try to not start chewing gum until after noon. If I put too much stuff in my mouth by night time it seems like it's worse. I have wrote so much on here about my mouth that someone told me I needed to organize my thoughts and figure out what was really wrong with me!!!! Anyhow, I'm telling you now that by wearing a night guard it stops your tongue from moving around and it calms the mouth down. Honestly, you have nothing to lose. I understand your frustration more than you know.

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?

@celia16 I have had much of what you describe and I have been diagnosed with Burning Mouth Syndrome. There is no known cause or treatment. Many have gone on gabapentin with no real relief. I only have burning of lips and front of mouth. It gets worse as the day goes on. I have had very altered taste ( no smell disorder) which has gotten progressively worse over 5 years. My symptoms started pre Covid. What struck me is your mouth reaction when putting a cream on your legs. I get instant burning in my mouth when I apply insect repellent, sunscreen, face creams or other products on my body! I have looked at a BMS group on Facebook and no one else has mentioned this. I have controlled my symptoms by avoiding many foods. I can still taste meat and dairy. Sweets taste awful, as do acids . A weird thing I noticed also is when I took a first generation antihistamine for a sleep aid when ever I travel my taste improved! This was also mentioned in the FB group. However those antihistamines contribute to dementia. No thanks.
This disease is not pleasant but I have learned to accept it. Would love to hear from others.

@gwenzen , thanks for responding. That post was from some time ago. Since then my bitter/salty/odd taste has gotten slightly better. It’s still constant, but not as intense. I hold on to hope. Have you ever read of anyone who had a full recovery? My heart goes out to all those with this condition. I don’t think most people understand what this can do to a person.

@celia16 I’m glad you are better. Did you look up Burning Mouth Syndrome? It sounds like what you have. I, like you, have more taste disorder than pain. My taste disorder is worse as time goes on. It takes away the pleasure of eating but I don’t find it disabling. Did you find anything that helped you? I have heard spontaneous recovery occurs.

@celia16 I have had much of what you describe and I have been diagnosed with Burning Mouth Syndrome. There is no known cause or treatment. Many have gone on gabapentin with no real relief. I only have burning of lips and front of mouth. It gets worse as the day goes on. I have had very altered taste ( no smell disorder) which has gotten progressively worse over 5 years. My symptoms started pre Covid. What struck me is your mouth reaction when putting a cream on your legs. I get instant burning in my mouth when I apply insect repellent, sunscreen, face creams or other products on my body! I have looked at a BMS group on Facebook and no one else has mentioned this. I have controlled my symptoms by avoiding many foods. I can still taste meat and dairy. Sweets taste awful, as do acids . A weird thing I noticed also is when I took a first generation antihistamine for a sleep aid when ever I travel my taste improved! This was also mentioned in the FB group. However those antihistamines contribute to dementia. No thanks.
This disease is not pleasant but I have learned to accept it. Would love to hear from others.

@gwenzen, my mother told me that years ago she encountered a metallic taste in her mouth. I don’t recall it, but my mom has an extremely good memory. She said it lasted about a year and left. My mom also has episodes of phantom smells. So do I, though none this year. This gives me hope.

I recall that I started using a certain facial cream with sunscreen shortly before the taste thing started. I have stopped and switched to one without sunscreen just in case. We’ll see if any change.

Yes, I did read about Burning Mouth Syndrome shortly after my issue started. I realized it might be related, but since I didn’t have burning……….

@gwenzen Thank you for your post. Like @celica16 I don't think I have burning mouth syndrome either. I have no pain but sometimes by the end of the day the tip of my tongue is red and looks inflammed. My issue is mostly related to a taste disorder, either sour or salty. When I wake up it's like my mouth resets and I am pretty okay until I start eating. I do notice that certain foods really bother me including of course salty foods ,but like you, sweets too, especially chocolate which was my ultimate favorite. Anything spicy or very tangy is also a trigger so a lot of Chinese and Mexican foods are no longer okay. Sometimes if I brush my teeth is helps for a while or if use a non alcohol oral rinse but it's strange because sometimes after a half hour the taste of the rinse become unbearable while other days it helps. I am weaning off Gabapentin since it has done nothing and it too can cause dementia. I am starting to lose hope that it will get better since it's only gotten worse over the past year. The doctors all seem to be stumped which is even more frustrating!!!!