Metallic breath can occur after eating food cooked in aluminum cookware or due to high iron content in food. If these factors are excluded, then this may indicate the development of a dangerous pathology in the body. Whatever the reasons for the metallic smell from the mouth, when it appears, you should consult a specialist, because even if it was the result of improper cooking, this situation will still not lead to anything good.
Bad breath as a symptom of illness
Since the time of Hippocrates, the doctor, when examining a patient, paid attention to the smell from the mouth and could make a diagnosis only on this basis. Indeed, in this place of a person, the mucous membrane is very thin and the blood vessels passclose to the surface. Metallic breath occurs due to diseases of the gums, teeth and oral mucosa. In addition, the esophagus and respiratory tract enter the mouth. By the smell from the mouth, one can judge the state of the stomach, liver and lungs, not to mention systemic diseases - anemia, thyroid tumors, stomach and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis.
It happens that a metallic smell from the mouth in an adult is a one-time phenomenon, which has arisen, for example, under the influence of a medication or a new denture in the mouth. In this case, there is nothing to worry about. If the metallic smell in the mouth has become permanent, then this means that it is necessary to undergo a full examination by a doctor.
Oral diseases
If there is a metallic smell from the mouth, then the reason for it, first of all, is looked for just in the mouth. Various diseases of the mucosa, gums and teeth can lead to this symptom.
Inflammation of the gums, namely periodontitis and gingivitis, is accompanied by bleeding, which gives a metallic taste in the mouth and the smell of blood. Similar symptoms occur with stomatitis. After all, small ulcers on the mucous membrane can also bleed. Deep caries leads to pulpitis, which often causes bleeding from the tooth. True, this creates a putrid smell.
The characteristic taste of iron gives such a phenomenon as galvanism. It occurs in people with installed dentures that have metal parts in their design. The galvanic current generated by the actionsaliva, manifested by dry mouth, pain in the gums and tongue, loss of the ability to recognize tastes, and frequent headaches. In this case, the treatment is obvious - it is necessary to replace the prosthesis.
As for other diseases, a dentist will help to cope with them.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
The causes of metallic breath in an adult may lie in problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It can be a peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum itself, gastritis or even dysbacteriosis, when the intestinal microflora is disturbed. Inflammation of the gallbladder and liver pathology can cause a failure of the entire digestive system.
Metallic taste in the mouth is not the only symptom, usually such diseases are accompanied by acute pain in the stomach, weakness, nausea, and impaired stool. A gastroenterologist can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment in this situation.
Hypovitaminosis
Violations of the level of trace elements in the human body is called hypovitaminosis. It is also capable of causing bad metallic breath. Such a condition is accompanied by other symptoms that help to diagnose it: weakness in the limbs, increased fatigue, sleep disturbance, mental disorder, problems with memory and brain speed.
Hypovitaminosis is the main cause of metallic breath in a child, asduring the period of intensive growth of the body, the level of one or another element in the blood is often disturbed.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a violation of the absorption of glucose by the cells of the body, which eventually accumulates in the blood, causing the destruction of the walls of blood vessels in all internal organs and skin.
It is this manifestation of diabetes that can cause the taste of blood in the mouth. That is, the thinnest vessels of the mucous membrane of the mouth and gums burst and bleed. Symptoms of diabetes include constant thirst and wounds that do not heal for a long time. If a person has all these manifestations at once, he needs to urgently undergo an examination by a doctor and get a referral for treatment. Otherwise, it may end in a diabetic coma and death.
Cancer
Often a malignant tumor that develops in the body gives the smell of iron from the mouth. It is clear that there are other symptoms, general malaise, weakness, loss of appetite and a number of specific symptoms. In this situation, the earlier the disease can be diagnosed, the more positive the prognosis awaits the patient. That is why it is recommended that you immediately consult a doctor if you experience a taste of blood in your mouth.
Non-disease reasons
It happens that a completely he althy person has a metallic taste in his mouth. The reason for this may be heavy metal poisoning at work, dehydration, addiction to dietary supplements or taking vitamins.
In this case, the person himself is able to identify the etiology if he traces the causal relationship of being, for example, in the workshop of a paint and varnish factory with the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth. You just need to be more attentive to your body and not abuse dietary supplements.
Also, we must not forget that metal ions can enter the body through the skin, so the taste of iron in the mouth can appear as a result of constant contact of the skin with iron, for example, as a result of working with it or when addicted to metal jewelry such as chains and bracelets.
Taste of metal can be caused by eating it. It comes from old water pipes or from metal utensils. To identify such a reason, it is enough to let the tap water stand in a glass glass for several hours and see if a precipitate has formed at the bottom. And it is better to refuse metal utensils altogether.
Smell of iron from the mouth during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman's body is completely rebuilt, preparing for gestation and subsequent childbirth. Internal metabolism often leads to a violation of iron levels, which consequently causes bad breath. This usually happens in the first months of pregnancy.
Lack of iron and calcium, in turn, leads to dental disease, periodontal disease, caries and so on. This necessarily affects the purity of breath and breath.
That is why a pregnant woman mustregularly take tests for the level of essential trace elements in the blood to prevent their shortage.
Principles of treatment
You can get rid of bad breath only by eliminating the cause of its appearance. If this occurs as a result of diseases of the stomach or liver, you need to undergo treatment with a gastroenterologist. If the cause of an unpleasant aftertaste is a disease of the teeth and gums, then you need to consult a dentist. It is best to visit a therapist first, he will be able to detect the primary cause and refer him for examination to a narrower specialist. For example, the causes of metallic breath in a child are determined by a pediatrician, and in pregnant women, by a gynecologist.
Quick way to get rid of the taste of metal in the mouth
It is clear that bad taste in the mouth will go away with appropriate treatment, but nothing prevents a person from taking steps to get rid of it while treatment is in progress.
To do this, you can rinse your mouth with lemon juice 2 times a day or just eat a few slices of lemon for breakfast and dinner. This, by the way, is very beneficial for the kidneys and the immune system.
During the day, you can put a little ginger, cinnamon or cardamom in your mouth. Sweet candies help to get rid of the taste of iron, but it is better not to use this method for sick teeth. Oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and tomatoes should be present in the human diet. They permanently eliminate the taste of blood in the mouth.
Prevention of iron taste in the mouth
In order to reduce the likelihood of conditions in the body accompanied by the appearance of a metallic taste in the mouth, it is necessary to take care of prevention:
- You need to pay more attention to the condition of the oral cavity. Teeth should be brushed regularly using silk floss to clean the interdental spaces. Be sure to rinse your mouth after eating.
- Cook and eat only ceramic or glassware.
- Tap water is better not to drink at all. It definitely needs to be filtered. In most cities, water pipes have not been changed for many decades. Naturally, water is now flowing through them, containing iron oxide and a host of other impurities.
- Include citrus fruits and nuts in your diet. They strengthen the immune system and prevent many diseases that cause bad breath.
- During pregnancy, a woman should regularly see her doctor and undergo all the tests that he prescribes. This will allow you to track the progress of the development of the child and the state of the mother, to prevent many fetal defects caused by metabolic disorders. For example, with a lack of iron in the fetus, anemia may develop and the hematopoietic function of the body may be disturbed.
- Young children should also have regular check-ups with their pediatrician as they have very fast growth and metabolic rates.
- Adults should also be examined by a doctor at least 2 times a year with mandatory ultrasound examination of internal organs and testsblood for biochemistry. This will allow you to identify developing pathologies at the very beginning and easily cure them.
Metallic breath can talk about various problems of the body. To identify the reasons, it is better to contact a specialist.
