Taste of blood in the mouth is a characteristic unpleasant taste of blood in the mouth, which is often accompanied by nausea. The symptom is observed in the pathology of the oral cavity and teeth, lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract and liver, viral infections of the respiratory system. To determine the cause of the taste of blood, an examination of the oral cavity, x-rays, ultrasound, and laboratory tests are performed. To eliminate discomfort, therapeutic pastes and rinses with antiseptic solutions, antisecretory drugs are indicated.
Pregnant women are characterized by sharp hormonal changes, which cause an aggravation of smell, a change in taste preferences and sensations. As a result, a specific taste of metal, felt as a taste of blood, occurs when eating fully cooked meat products, fish, or even vegetable dishes. The symptom is noted periodically and often goes away on its own after a while.
The main causes of taste changes are a drop in hemoglobin and coagulation disorders, leading to capillary fragility. Especially often the taste of blood in the mouth in young women is noted in the case of anemia during pregnancy. Its persistence during the day, combined with excruciating nausea, urge to vomit, indicates a concomitant pathology (coagulopathy, hypovitaminosis). In the absence of gestation, an anemic change in taste is noted in chronic bleeding, neoplasia, etc.
Inflammatory damage to the gums of a chronic nature occurs in 20-30% of the adult population. Usually, the taste of blood appears after brushing the teeth with hard toothbrushes, which cause trauma to the mucous membrane and bleeding of the gums. With aggravation of gingivitis, an unpleasant taste in the mouth is felt at any time of the day for no apparent reason. The symptom is accompanied by redness and swelling of the gums, the formation of hard-to-remove plaque on the teeth.
A bloody taste in the mouth is detected in various pathological processes: medium and deep caries, pulpitis, periodontitis. The symptom may occur spontaneously, but is more often provoked by the intake of solid food, brushing your teeth. A specific unpleasant taste of blood develops against the background of intense pain in the area of the diseased tooth. Odontogenic causes are dangerous for their complications, so you need to visit a specialist as soon as possible.
The taste of blood in the mouth often occurs in chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, in which atrophy of the mucous membrane occurs and scanty bleeding periodically begins. The bloody taste disturbs in the morning, when the blood accumulated during the night begins to drain down the back of the throat. A person experiences severe nausea, aversion to food. Unpleasant sensations disappear after rinsing the mouth and brushing the teeth.
Most often, the symptom occurs with influenza, for which a toxic effect on the capillaries and spontaneous bleeding from the oral mucosa are pathognomonic. Taste occurs periodically in the first 2-3 days of infection, then disappears on its own. A similar clinical picture also develops in severe ARVI, pharyngitis and laryngitis.
GERD and gastritis are characterized by a taste of blood in the mouth after drinking alcohol, stress and heavy physical exertion. With these diseases, the main causes of an unusual taste are the formation of erosions of the mucous membrane of the digestive canal, which, under the influence of adverse factors, begin to bleed. Patients experience a strong burning sensation and pain behind the sternum, against which the unpleasant sensations of blood in the mouth are disturbing.
Fibrous damage to the liver provokes the expansion of the veins of the esophagus and the thinning of their walls, which is fraught with spontaneous bleeding. In the mouth of patients with cirrhosis, a strong taste of blood suddenly begins to be felt, with massive bleeding, vomiting of dark red blood opens. The symptom is more common in men who abuse alcohol. If you suspect a rupture of varicose esophageal veins, a person needs emergency medical care.
The symptom is determined by hypertension, vasculitis, which are accompanied by thinning and fragility of capillaries. A specific bloody taste appears after physical activity or stress, leading to an increase in blood pressure and rupture of small vessels. During an attack of angina, against the background of pain in the heart and shortness of breath, there is sometimes a sensation of an unpleasant taste of blood in the mouth.
To find out the cause of the taste of blood in the mouth, the patient is referred to a general practitioner, and in case of complaints of toothache, to a dentist. During the initial examination, typical etiological factors of unpleasant taste sensations are excluded; modern imaging methods are used to clarify the diagnosis. The greatest diagnostic value, taking into account the probable cause of the disorder, are such studies as:
To reduce the bloody taste, you need to rinse your mouth with clean water, decoctions of chamomile or sage after each meal. To reduce gum bleeding, doctors recommend choosing a toothbrush with a natural soft bristle that does not injure the mucous membrane. To find out why the taste of blood in the mouth is constantly disturbing, you need to contact a specialist.
Medical tactics depend on the cause of the appearance of discomfort. If the taste occurs in a healthy pregnant woman, it is enough to change the diet - eat more fruits, add mint, cinnamon to dishes, which neutralize the metallic taste. In other situations, treatment is aimed at eliminating the etiological factor, for which the following are prescribed:
With carious lesions of the teeth, it is necessary to remove necrotic tissues and place fillings. For the treatment of periodontitis, the root canal is expanded to create conditions for the outflow of inflammatory exudate. When bleeding from dilated veins of the esophagus, endoscopic ligation or sclerosis of altered vessels is required.