How to Get Rid of a Metallic Taste in Your Mouth

Dysgeusia is a condition where you experience a strange metallic taste in the mouth, which is described as a bitter, bad, foul or iron taste. Along with a poor sense of taste, one can also suffer from vomiting.

This type of foul taste can be both unpleasant and persistent. In fact, a persistent metallic taste may cause foods to taste bad and generate a bitter aftertaste from even your favorite dish. This may lead to a loss of appetite as well as depression.

Some of the causes of the foul taste in the mouth include acid reflex, dehydration, breathing through the mouth, smoking, dry mouth, pregnancy, sinus problems, hyperparathyroidism, uncontrolled diabetes, upper respiratory infections, dementia, side effect of certain medications, and poor oral hygiene.

In most cases, a metallic taste in your mouth can be successfully treated with home remedies and certain lifestyle changes.

However, if the problem becomes chronic, consider seeing your doctor in order to identify the underlying condition causing the metallic taste in your mouth and appropriate treatment.

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of a metallic taste in your mouth.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a natural, nutrient-rich solution that balances the pH in the mouth. It helps alkalize as well as neutralize the acidic environment in the mouth and offers relief from the metallic taste.

Plus, its sour taste stimulates salivation, which in turn facilitates washing away the metallic taste.

• Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink it 2 times a day.
• Also, use apple cider vinegar in salad dressings or for marinating pickles.

2. Baking Soda

A natural compound, baking soda helps regulate pH, thus preventing an imbalance of acid and alkalinity in the body. This makes baking soda effective at eliminating additional acid or a metallic taste in the mouth.

Baking soda is also effective at eliminating plaque and harmful bacteria in the mouth.

• Mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water and use it as a mouth rinse once daily.
• Also, sprinkle a little baking soda on your toothbrush when you brush your teeth twice daily for a few days to reduce the acidity in your mouth.

3. Salt Water

When it comes to maintaining oral hygiene, a salt water rinse plays an important role.

Salt is composed of sodium chloride, which restricts bacterial growth in the mouth as well as helping neutralize the acids. This is turn helps get rid of the metal taste.

1. Add 1 teaspoon of table salt to 1 cup of lukewarm water.
2. Stir thoroughly until the salt dissolves completely.
3. Use this solution to rinse your mouth 2 or 3 times a day and especially before going to bed.

4. Green Tea

If the dysgeusia is related to digestive problems, green tea can help treat it.

This healthy beverage helps fight bacterial infections and control inflammation, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In fact, the presence of catechins in green tea can combat the bitter taste in your mouth.

At the same time, green tea supports oral health, which is important to prevent a foul taste.

• Put 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves in a cup of hot water. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, add a little honey and drink it while the tea is still warm. Drink 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day.
• You can also take green tea extract in supplement form at a dosage of 250 to 500 milligrams per day until symptoms subside. However, always consult your doctor before taking any supplement.

5. Cinnamon

The spice cinnamon can also combat a foul taste in your mouth. Several compounds as well as antioxidant agents in cinnamon are helpful in getting rid of a metallic taste in the mouth. Its pungent smell also plays a key role in activating the taste buds.

Plus, cinnamon works as a natural antacid and helps dispel stomach gas.

• Blend together 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and organic, raw honey to make a paste. Apply and keep the paste on your tongue for 10 minutes, then rinse the mouth thoroughly. Do this twice daily until you get rid of the metallic taste.
• Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder to 1 cup of water. Bring it to a boil, then allow it to steep for a couple of minutes. Drink this cinnamon tea 2 or 3 times a day.
• Chew a small piece of cinnamon stick after eating your meal.

6. Oil Pulling

An overload of toxins in the body is another key reason behind a foul taste in the mouth. To solve this root cause, oil pulling is a great remedy.

Oil pulling, a traditional Ayurvedic technique, can help get rid of toxins as well as odor-causing bacteria in the mouth. It also soothes and stimulates the key meridians in the tongue, where taste buds meet organs.

1. First thing in the morning, put 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth.
2. Swish it around your mouth and through your teeth.
3. Continue doing so for 15 to 20 minutes, until the oil becomes thinner and turns milky.
4. Spit out the oil and rinse your mouth with water.
5. Repeat the process daily for about a month.

Note: Do not gargle or swallow the oil.

7. Lemon

To counter the foul taste in your mouth, lemon is another excellent home remedy.

The citric acid in lemon stimulates salivation, which helps break the metal-like taste in the mouth and even fights bacterial growth to maintain oral health.

• Add the juice of half a lemon to a glass of lukewarm water. Use it to rinse your mouth 2 or 3 times a day.
• Sprinkle a little salt on a small piece of lemon. Use it rub your tongue to enhance your taste buds.
• You can even chew tender lemon leaves or add them to your salads or soup recipes.

8. Peppermint

If sinus and upper respiratory infections are the reason behind your dysgeusia and halitosis, you can treat the problems with peppermint due to its natural antibacterial effects.

Peppermint inhibits the growth of bacteria in the mouth, thus preventing bad odors, and in fact, its soothing smell freshens up your breath.

It also calms the digestive system and eases acid reflux symptoms, which includes a metallic taste in the mouth.

• Add a handful of freshly crushed peppermint leaves to a jug of hot water. Cover and allow it to steep for 1 hour, then strain it. Drink a glass of this infused water throughout the day.
• Chew 5 to 6 fresh peppermint leaves 2 or 3 times a day.
• You can even prepare a strong cup of peppermint tea, cool it and then use it to rinse your mouth once daily.

9. Water

In order to get rid of dysgeusia, it is essential to drink water at regular intervals. This will help wash out the toxins present in the mouth. Water also helps your body better eliminate feces, which contain a good amount of toxins.

Furthermore, water intake reduces the acid levels in your stomach and keeps you healthy from within.

• Aim to drink between 8 and 10 glasses of fresh water daily. However, you may need less or more, depending upon your climate and activity level on any given day.
• Along with water, include water-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Note: To make sure you are drinking enough, check your urine color. If your urine color is clear, it means your water intake is sufficient.

10. Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene practices should be a part of controlling any oral problem. It can help prevent a wide range of health issues, including dysgeusia.

• Make sure to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day. Also, clean your teeth after each meal to prevent bacterial growth.
• Along with brushing, flossing and rinsing the mouth with a mouthwash are also important.
• When you brush your teeth, make sure to brush the tongue area as well to lessen the metallic taste.
• Change your toothbrush every 3 months.
• Visit your dentist once a year, or more often if recommended.

Additional Tips

• Stay away from junk and processed foods.
• Consume organic foods.
• Use plastic eating utensils for a few days, until the metal taste in your mouth goes away.
• Avoid smoking and chewing tobacco, as they hamper saliva production.
• Suck on sugar-free candies or chew sugar-free gum to promote saliva production.
• Eliminate coffee from your daily routine for a few days to help solve the bad taste problem.
• Limit the intake of fried and spicy foods that trigger acid reflux.
• Take smaller portions of food, chew the food thoroughly and eat slowly to get rid of indigestion.