What Causes a Metallic Taste in Your Mouth?

Treatment for metallic taste in the mouth depends on the cause. 

• Gum disease 
  • Maintain good oral hygiene
  • Brush teeth regularly 
  • Use dental floss
  • Get a dental check-up every 6 months
• Certain medications, such as antibiotics
  • Talk to your doctor about the side effects to see if you can take another medication
  • Do not stop taking prescribed medication without first talking to your doctor
• Cancer treatments: radiation and chemotherapy
  • Use acidic or sour-tasting flavorings in your foods, such as vinegar, lemon, lime, orange, basil, Italian flat leaf parsley, and cilantro
  • Eat frozen foods
  • Use plastic or wooden utensils instead of metal 
• Indigestion
  • Treat the indigestion and the unpleasant taste should go away
• Chemical exposure 
  • Remove the source of the contamination 
• For colds and sinus infections and pregnancy, metallic taste should go away once the condition ends
• For certain vitamins or supplements, usually the taste goes away not long after the pills are taken

See a doctor if the metallic taste in your mouth doesn’t go away, or there is no clear cause. 

You may be able to prevent a metallic taste in the mouth in certain cases: 

• Maintain good oral hygiene: brush and floss twice daily, and see your dentist regularly
• Drink plenty of water
• Chew sugar-free gum
• Use plastic or wooden utensils instead of metal