Dysgeusia is a taste disorder. People with this condition feel that all foods taste metallic, sweet, sour or bitter. Many things can cause dysgeusia, like smoking, medical conditions, medication or poor oral hygiene. Treatment addresses the underlying cause, like quitting smoking, changing medication or improving oral hygiene.
Dysgeusia (pronounced “dis-gyoo-zee-uh”) is a disorder that distorts your sense of taste. People with this condition often say that anything they eat tastes like metal, rancid or bitter. Dysgeusia isn’t a serious medical condition. But it can affect your appetite and quality of life. Healthcare providers may use the terms “altered taste” or “parageusia.”
Dysgeusia is different from ageusia, which is when you lose your sense of taste.
Research suggests up to 17% of people in the U.S. experience dysgeusia at some point in their lives.
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Dysgeusia affects people in different ways. In general, food just doesn’t taste the same as you remember. Some common symptoms are:
Many things may cause this condition, including:
Several conditions can cause dysgeusia, including:
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Your healthcare provider will do a physical examination and ask about your symptoms. They may do the following tests:
Treatment depends on why you have dysgeusia. For example, if medication is causing dysgeusia, changing medications may help. If you have a viral infection like COVID-19 that affects your sense of smell and taste, your healthcare provider may recommend olfactory training therapy.
Studies show your sense of smell is responsible for about 80% of what you taste. Your nose and throat share the same airway, so chewing some foods allows food aroma to make its way to your nose through the back of your mouth. Olfactory training therapy involves daily exposure to different odors for several weeks. Over time, what you smell stimulates your olfactory system in your brain and re-establishes your memories of that smell.
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You can reduce your risk by:
That depends on the cause. In most cases, dysgeusia goes away on its own once your provider finds the underlying cause. For example, if smoking causes dysgeusia, quitting smoking will make dysgeusia go away. If medication is the culprit, changing medication may help.
But in some cases, the underlying cause is a chronic condition or there’s no substitute for medication. In these scenarios, dysgeusia doesn’t go away, but there are ways to mask the nasty taste in your mouth that the condition causes.
Often, dysgeusia goes away after your healthcare provider diagnoses the underlying causes. But there are many things you can do to ease your symptoms. Here are some suggestions:
Dysgeusia can keep you from enjoying your favorite meals. It can make everything taste like it’s been seasoned with metal or sweet treats taste sour. Lots of things cause dysgeusia. If you notice food doesn’t taste the same, talk to a healthcare provider. You may not be able to avoid some of the causes. But you can take steps to reduce the impact that dysgeusia has on your sense of taste.
Last reviewed on 04/19/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy