Tackle the metallic taste during pregnancy

With a baby on its way you are already tackling morning sickness, insomnia, back aches, swollen feet and mood swings. Add to that a weird metallic taste in your mouth. Not at all a pleasant thought! A common pregnancy symptom in the first trimester, Dysgeusia is the medical term for the metallic taste in your mouth; and it stays even when you are not eating.

What is the cause?

Estrogen plays an active role in controlling and moderating our sense of taste. During pregnancy since the Estrogen levels fluctuate – so do our taste buds, leading to the sour or metallic taste. Also since your sense of smell and taste are connected, your heightened sense of smell also may lead to the metallic taste.

What can you do about it?

Dysgeusia, like morning sickness gets better or sometimes even completely disappears in your second trimester when the hormones begin to settle down. Here are a few tips that might help you make the metallic taste go away.

  1. The only known way to get rid of the metallic taste is to neutralize it. Focus on sour flavours like citrus fruits, lemon, lemonade etc. These tastes not only break through the metallic taste but also increase saliva production that helps in washing away the taste
  2. Sometimes your pre-natal vitamin may be causing this taste. You should consult the doctor to consider alternatives.
  3. Brush your tongue while brushing to get that feel fresh.
  4. Rinse your mouth with salt water few times a day to neutralize pH levels in your mouth.