Metallic taste in the mouth
Overview
A metallic taste is not usually serious and can be a symptom of many different things. Treatment will depend on the cause.
Common causes of metallic taste
Cause and what you can do:
- Gum disease - regularly brush your teeth, use dental floss, have a dental check-up every 6 months
- Taking medicine, like metronidazole - speak to a pharmacist for advice but do not stop taking prescribed medicine without medical advice
- Cancer treatment, like chemotherapy or radiotherapy – eat stronger tasting food like ginger, spices and boiled sweets
- Colds, sinus infections and other airway problems - the taste should go away once the problem has cleared up
- Indigestion - the taste should go away after treating indigestion
- Being pregnant - the taste is usually temporary and clears up by itself
Sometimes, a metallic taste can be linked to a problem with your sense of smell.
See a GP if:
- the metallic taste does not go away
- the metallic taste has no obvious cause
The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by NHS website nhs.uk
Last Updated:
19/03/2024 11:44:04