Sweet Taste In The Mouth: Symptoms, Causes, And Prevention

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribeWhat’s Causing a Sweet Taste in My Mouth?

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on April 19, 2023

Causes
Diagnosis
Prevention

You may experience a sweet taste in your mouth due to certain health conditions, including metabolic disorders, neurological problems, and viruses that affect your sense of smell, among others.

Sweetness is one of at least five basic tastes detected by the tongue’s taste buds. Others include sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and a balanced flavor called umami.

Normally you’ll only taste sweetness after eating something that contains sugar. This could be something more natural, like honey or fruit, or something processed, like ice cream.

Some medical conditions can cause a person to experience a sweet taste in their mouth even if they haven’t eaten something sweet. Continue reading to learn more.

What causes a sweet taste in the mouth?

Doctors are still learning more about the causes of this unusual symptom. However, some causes appear to include:

Metabolic problems, such as diabetes, ketosis, or a thyroid disorder. Metabolic disorders can affect the body’s ability to taste, causing a background sweet taste in the mouth and large preference for very sweet-tasting foods.
Neurological problems, such as stroke, seizure disorder, or epilepsy. A sweet taste in the mouth can be an early symptom of neurological issues.
Viruses that attack the body’s ability to smell. Disruptions in the body’s olfactory system — the system that allows the body to smell — can result in a sweet taste in the mouth.
Infection in the sinuses, nose, and throat. Certain bacteria, especially pseudomonas, can cause a sweet taste in the mouth.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Stomach acid backs up into the throat and mouth, causing a sweet taste.
Small cell carcinoma in the lung. A sweet taste is an early symptom of this condition.
Pregnancy. Many women experience a strange taste in their mouth in the early stages of pregnancy. Some women might describe it as sweet or metallic.

These conditions cause a sweet taste in the mouth by affecting the body’s sensory, or nervous, system. This is a complex system of sensors affected by hormones in the body. These conditions affect the functions of these hormones, causing a sweet taste in the mouth.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have a sweet taste in your mouth on an infrequent basis, it’s probably nothing to worry about and will go away on its own. But if you’re experiencing this symptom on a regular or increasing basis, you should see a doctor.

You may choose to see your primary care physician, or you can choose to see a specialist. Many causes of a sweet taste in the mouth appear to be associated with the olfactory and respiratory systems. Other causes are associated with the body’s hormones (endocrine system) and also neurological problems. So, you may choose to see one or more of the following specialists:

ear, nose, and throat doctor
endocrinologist
neurologist

You can book an appointment with a neurologist in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.

When you see your doctor, they will perform a physical examination and ask about your medical history. They might also ask about your family’s medical history, which can affect your likelihood of developing certain conditions that can cause a sweet taste in the mouth.

At your visit, your doctor will try to determine the underlying condition causing a sweet taste in your mouth by running various diagnostic tests. These might include:

blood tests to check hormone and blood sugar levels
blood tests to check for bacterial and viral infections
brain scans to check neurological activity and look for nerve damage
CT or MRI scans to check the lungs for signs of cancer

Q:

A:

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

How can you prevent a sweet taste in the mouth?

If the sweet taste in your mouth occurs infrequently, chances are it will go away on its own. Staying healthy may help prevent this problem in the future. That involves eating a diet rich in fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Try not to eat a lot of sugars. These increase your risks of diseases, especially diabetes, which is associated with a sweet taste in the mouth.

However, if the sweet taste in your mouth is caused by an underlying medical condition, sticking to your treatment plan can help prevent the symptom from coming back. Listen to your doctor’s treatment instructions carefully. If the problem doesn’t go away or comes back even if you’re following your doctor’s instructions, be sure to contact your doctor right away.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bhandare NN, et al. (2014). Diabetic tongue –Could it be a diagnostic criterion? DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F2249-4863.141654
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Diabetes: Tests anddiagnoses.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20033091
Nakazato Y, et al. (2006). Unpleasant sweettaste: A symptom of SIADH caused by lung cancer.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077685/
Panayiotou H, et al. (1995). Sweet taste(dysegeusia). The first symptom of hyponatremia in small cell carcinoma of thelung. DOI:http://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1995.00430120117014

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on April 19, 2023

Sweet Taste In The Mouth: Symptoms, Causes, And Prevention

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

What causes a sweet taste in the mouth?

When should you see a doctor?

Q:

A:

How can you prevent a sweet taste in the mouth?

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Sweet Taste In Mouth: Causes And Solutions - Medical News Today

Why Do I Have A Sweet Taste In My Mouth?

Why Do I Have A Constant Sweet Taste In My Mouth? | Oral Health

What Causes Saliva To Taste Sweet? - Quora

Have You Been Noticing A Strange Taste In Your Mouth? - WomanLog

Unpleasant Sweet Taste: A Symptom Of SIADH Caused By Lung Cancer

Why Do We Like Sweet Taste: A Bitter Tale? - PMC - NCBI

Why Might My Sense Of Taste Change? - WebMD

Sweet Taste In Mouth: Causes And Solutions - Scary Symptoms

Sweet Taste On Tongue Health Remedies - Joyful Belly

Sweet Taste Definition And Meaning | Collins English Dictionary

The Real Reason Sweet Tastes Sweet - BBC Future

Getting A Sense Of How We Taste Sweetness - NPR

Treats And Tricks: The Magic World Of Sweetness

Contact