So you have a metallic taste in your mouth, and you are pregnant. This probably is not your worst pregnancy symptom, but it can be pretty annoying. This condition has a scientific name called Dysgeusia, and the metallic taste it gives off can occur when you eat food and when you are not. A lot of individuals describe this sensation as though they were just sucking on a penny. Talk about yuck!
Causes
So, what causes 93% of pregnant individuals to experience Dysgeusia? It is caused by surprise, surprise, hormones! Like so many other symptoms of pregnancy, the rise in hormones, specifically, in this case, Estrogen, is what is causing the metallic taste in your mouth. Even if you are not quite experiencing a metallic taste, many pregnant individuals describe taste changes or a sour, salty, rancid, burnt, foul taste in their mouth, and rising hormone levels cause all of these. As you continue your pregnancy and your hormones level out, this odd taste should lessen slightly.
It would appear that other things can cause Dysgeusia than just pregnancy itself. Some of these things are taking vitamins, over-the-counter medications, colds or infections in the mouth, dry mouth, diabetes, gingivitis, kidney or liver disease, cancer, and heavy metal exposure. In most cases, Dysgeusia is benign, but if you are concerned about it, reaching out to your care provider is a good idea.
Solutions
Although annoying, there are some things that individuals have found to help lessen this pregnancy symptom. The first thing you can try is reducing the metallic taste by adding acids to your diet. Things like citrus juices and vinegar can help lessen Dysgeusia. You can also change your prenatal vitamins and see if that does the trick. If your prenatal vitamins cause Dysgeusia, this is a quick and easy fix. Other things you might try are rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, taking sugar-free mints or sugarless gum, eating cold items like ice chips or popsicles, snacking on saltine crackers, eating spicy foods, staying hydrated, up your oral hygiene, opting out of metal cutlery, and consuming sour foods like green apples. These different tips and tricks can help, but sometimes, you must simply wait this symptom out until your hormones regulate a bit more.
Should I Tell My Doctor?
Although Dysgeusia is typically benign, if it concerns you, then bringing it up with your care provider might be a good idea. Like morning sickness, in most cases, Dysgeusia goes away as you enter into your second trimester. So, although it can be really annoying, you will likely not experience it your entire pregnancy. Hold fast. You are close to having more normal-tasting meals and not feeling like you’ve just licked a penny. With that being said, if Dysgeusia is bothering you so much that eating enough food and staying hydrated feel impossible, then it is extra important that you consult with your care provider to make up a plan.
You need to be able to sustain this pregnancy, and a symptom, though not typically super harmful, but that is causing harm to you, is serious and should be taken as such.
