Everything Tastes Salty | Why You Have A Salty Taste In Mouth

If you’re finding that everything tastes salty all of a sudden, you might be perplexed about the phenomenon. Having a salty taste in the mouth can be a sign of one of several things going wrong. So why does everything taste salty? This article will address some of the possible reasons.

We’ll discuss how some conditions can interfere with your sense of taste. Next, we’ll talk about when you must see a dentist or doctor who can treat the salty taste in your mouth.

How Your Sense of Taste Works

Your sense of taste tends to change over time, but the mechanism by which it works is well-studied. Your tongue is covered in thousands of tiny bumps called papillae. These bumps give it its characteristic texture and contain receptors that allow your tongue to send “taste” signals to the brain. When you chew food, your mouth secretes saliva that dissolves food particles and forms a mixture that the taste receptors on your tongue can process. If something happens to be interfering with this process, it could alter your sense of taste.

Interestingly, there is a strong link between your ability to smell and your ability to taste. That’s why you might notice that things taste different when you have a cold, for example.

Why Everything Tastes Salty – Causes Explained

The most likely cause for everything tasting salty is often dehydration. Signaled by dark-colored urine and increased thirst, dehydration can make your mouth taste salty even if you haven’t eaten anything yet. A good way to tell that you’re getting enough water is to inspect the color of your urine. Healthy urine is pale yellowish to amber in color.

Another reason why everything tastes salty can be a cold, flu, or sinus infection. In particular, sinus infections commonly have postnasal drip, which involves mucus dripping down into the mouth from the back of the nasal passage. The presence of this mucus can make things taste salty.

Certain medications also interfere with your ability to taste. These include antihistamines and antidepressants, which often have dry mouth as a side effect. As mentioned in the section above, a lack of saliva can prevent you from tasting flavors properly. Heart medications, such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, can also impair your sense of taste or leave a metallic taste in your mouth. The same applies to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Finally, certain viruses can also cause things to taste salty or otherwise different. The COVID-19 virus can cause a loss of taste and sense of smell, among its other symptoms.

Conclusion: Tooth Decay And Infection Can Cause Salty Taste

Another oft-neglected reason for a salty taste in the mouth is tooth decay or periodontal disease. The presence of bacteria and infected tissue in the mouth can impart a strong salty taste in your mouth. A qualified dentist best treats these.

See why we’re the best dentist in Houston, TX! At A+ Star Smile Dental, we offer personalized treatment for each patient, with our promise of dedication to excellence. Please feel free to give us a call at (713) 984-4934, and we’ll be happy to help answer any questions or schedule you for an appointment.

A+ STAR SMILE DENTAL

15003 Farm to Market Rd 529 G, Houston, TX 77095, United States

(713) 984-4934