Dysgeusia: Where Does This Taste Alteration Come From?

The alteration of taste, also called dysgeusia (or parageusia), disrupts taste perception and can weigh on patients' daily lives. This disorder may in reality signal an underlying pathology or result from certain medical treatments. What exactly is it? What symptoms does it cause? How should it be managed? Our experts shed light on the subject.

What is dysgeusia?

Dysgeusia corresponds to a qualitative alteration of taste. Affected people can perceive unpleasant flavours — metallic, bitter or rancid taste — without any appropriate taste stimulus being present.

Unlike ageusia (complete loss of taste) and hypogeusia (reduction of taste), dysgeusia results in a distortion of flavours. It can affect one or more of the five fundamental tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.

This disorder can be temporary or long-lasting, depending on its origin.

What are the causes of dysgeusia?

The causes at the origin of dysgeusia are numerous and varied:

• Medication intake: certain treatments — notably chemotherapies, antibiotics and antihypertensives — are likely to modify taste perception.
• Oral or respiratory infections: infections of the upper respiratory tract, sinusitis or even oral infections can cause transient dysgeusia.
• Nutritional deficiencies: deficiencies in zinc, vitamin B12 or other essential nutrients can disrupt taste.
• Neurological disorders: certain pathologies, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis, can influence taste perception.
• Hormonal changes: hormonal variations, particularly during pregnancy, can cause dysgeusia to appear.
• Oral hygiene: insufficient oral hygiene can lead to a taste alteration.

How to diagnose and treat dysgeusia?

Diagnosis of dysgeusia

The diagnosis generally follows several steps:

• A thorough medical history: during an exchange with the patient, the dentist retraces the medical history, ongoing treatments and associated symptoms.
• A clinical examination: assessment of the oral cavity, tongue and salivary glands.
• Taste tests: the practitioner uses specific substances to measure the perception of different flavours.
• Complementary examinations: in order to confirm the diagnosis, the professional may request blood tests to detect any deficiencies, or medical imaging in case of suspected neurological involvement.

Treatment of dysgeusia

To treat dysgeusia, your practitioner may consider:

• Medication adjustments: modification or replacement of the medications involved, in liaison with the initial prescriber.
• Vitamin supplementation: zinc or vitamin B12 intake when a deficiency is established.
• Improvement of oral hygiene: regular brushing, suitable mouthwashes and periodic dental follow-up.
• Treatment of underlying conditions: management of infections, neurological disorders or hormonal imbalances.
• Taste rehabilitation: targeted exercises designed to stimulate the taste buds and improve the perception of flavours.

Most often benign, dysgeusia can however reveal an underlying pathology or significantly impact quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach — combining dentists, general practitioners and specialists — is often required to treat this disorder.

Is a bitter or metallic taste persisting in your mouth? The slightest discomfort or the slightest question deserves to be examined without delay, in order to preserve your oral health. Make an appointment with your dentist in Cannes.