The human body is an amazing machine and it often lets us know when something is wrong. The only issue with that system is that it is hard to tell what your body is trying to say. After all, what could be something transitory might look more serious at first glance while something seemingly innocent actually indicates a big deal in terms of your health. Two examples of this are perceiving smells that aren’t there or a sweet taste in the mouth when you haven’t eaten.
An integral part of this process is how your senses perceive the world around you. A sudden change in how one or multiple sensory abilities work can have a major impact on your life and even possibly indicate a serious underlying health issue. This is especially concerning when it impacts your sense of taste or smell as the causes of those are harder to pinpoint than others. One of the more common issues out there is a sudden change in the taste in your mouth that doesn’t have a specific cause. This can be described as a metallic taste, a burnt taste, or even a sudden sweetness. Today, we’re talking about the latter and what it possibly indicates about your health. Are you experiencing a sweet taste in the mouth that can’t be explained? There might be a medical reason behind that.
Not only is sweetness one of the essential components of taste and flavor on the tongue, but it can possibly indicate certain issues you will want to get checked out.
This is particularly true if this sweet taste has no antecedent such as having eaten something with a high concentration of sugar or something artificial like candy.
If you are wondering “why do I have a sweet taste in my mouth?” you’ve come to the right place.
Sweet Taste in the Mouth: Causes
As to the “why is there a sweet taste in my mouth,” there is a range of possible explanations outside of eating something sweet. What causes sweet taste in mouth ranges from metabolic issues to pregnancy (the latter should help some people eliminate a possible cause).
Potential causes include but are not limited to diabetes, ketosis, thyroid disorders, neurological issues, viral infection, sinus infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), smell cell carcinoma in the lungs, and pregnancy. As far as neurological conditions are concerned, a sudden, unexplained sweet taste could indicate a stroke, seizure, epilepsy, or other potential disorder. In terms of neurological conditions, a symptom like an unexplained sweet taste in your mouth could be quite serious indeed as a stroke will not only impact your sense of taste but your entire sensory-motor system even though it, by itself, is not an ongoing condition.
Epilepsy, on the other hand, indicates a permanent condition that will require treatment and care – often for the rest of your life. This could include arranging for permanent care solutions to learning about coping strategies to mitigate the impact epilepsy has on your life. In all situations, a neurological cause behind a sweet taste in the mouth is a serious issue hence why it is better to be safe than sorry.
All of these conditions, in one way or the other, impact the body, whether through someone’s senses (such as seeing, smelling, tasting, and hearing) or through the nervous system.
The real question is when should you see a doctor about the issue and that depends on a range of factors not least among which is how often you experience the sensation of a sweet taste in your mouth that can’t be explained.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Essentially, if this is a condition that recurs, you should consult with a physician; if it happens occasionally, you may want to note your diet and keep track of it. Just because it happens infrequently doesn’t mean that it isn’t serious, but it doesn’t quite rise to the level of concern that a persistent condition with no apparent cause might merit.
There are also a few specialists that you might need to consult including an eye, ear, nose, and throat doctor, endocrinologist, or neurologist. Each one of these specialists deals with a different part of the body that could impact the way your senses perceive taste. Most likely the doctor you visit will want to run some tests on you to see what the potential cause of your ailment might be.
These include blood tests as well as physicals. Blood tests will look at things like the various hormones in your blood as well as their current levels. It will also test to see if you have any bacterial or viral infections. MRIs and CT scans will be used to look at your lungs to check for signs of issues there while a brain scan will look for potential damage or causes to your perceiving a sweet taste in your mouth.
After performing a range of tests, a potential cause might be identified. At that point, it is important that you stick to whatever treatment plan your doctor might provide. If, after receiving a diagnosis and following treatment, your problem gets worse then you will want to further consult with your physician or get a range of second opinions.
How Can You Prevent a Sweet Taste in Your Mouth?
Let’s say the cause of the sweetness in your mouth isn’t indicative of an underlying medical issue. What can you do to prevent it then? Again, you should look at your diet. Diets high in artificial foods and flavors, such as candies and sweets, will not only contribute to poor overall health but also might cause that kind of taste in your mouth. To avoid this, don’t eat things high in sugar or heavily processed foods.
This includes most candy and junk food out there but also things like sweetened teas and drinks. Try to substitute candy and other sweet foods with fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. Avoid packaged items as much as possible and balance your diet out with consistent mealtimes and meal planning.
Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/health/sweet-taste-in-mouth#prevention
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