It’s possible that low levels of fluid in your lungs—known as pulmonary edema—can also explain this phenomenon, at least in some cases. Basically, when your heart and lungs work really hard, fluid from your blood vessels can build in the tiny air sacs in your lungs and leak into your airway, Dr. Robinson says. This fluid contains a small amount of iron from your red blood cells, he adds, which can leave your mouth a little metallic-y. Pulmonary edema is typically associated with heart or lung problems, but in this case, it’s “not considered dangerous,” Dr. Robinson says—but it can be if it’s accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath.
So see a doctor if any of this sounds like the norm for you, or if the occasional bloody taste in your mouth during exercise gets worse over time. Dr. Robinson says the best way to avoid this issue is to slowly increase the intensity of your workouts; take breaks when you’re tired; hydrate yourself with water (or an electrolyte-based drink if exercising intensely for over an hour); and use a saline nasal spray to keep your nose moist and help minimize bleeding.
Something may be off with your oral health.
Your bloody or metallic taste could be—surprise, surprise!—a direct manifestation of something going on in your mouth, Thomas Sollecito, DMD, chair of the department of oral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, tells SELF. In most cases, your gums are to blame. When plaque builds on your teeth, your gums become irritated and inflamed (known as gingivitis). This doesn’t always cause pain or other symptoms—perhaps except an occasional metallic taste in your mouth, Dr. Sollecito says. That’s because your swollen gums are actually releasing tiny bits of blood that aren’t totally noticeable because your saliva is constantly clearing it away. As gingivitis worsens, it can morph into periodontitis, a.k.a. severe gum disease, which will make the metallic taste more intense. The same idea is true of other oral health issues that can lead to bloody discharge like tooth infections (although this may be more obvious from the get-go because it’ll likely cause other symptoms, like pain).
If you have a yeast infection in your mouth called oral thrush, that’s also a problem, Dr. Sollecito says. This happens when the fungus Candida, which is a normal microbe that lives in your mouth, overgrows and sometimes causes cottage-cheese like patches to spring up on your tongue, inner cheeks, gums, tonsils, or roof of your mouth. However, this white, creamy material “doesn’t always have to be present,” he says; you might just develop a metallic taste in your mouth, along with a burning or tingling sensation. Anything that makes your mouth dry like certain medications or dentures, or conditions that weaken your immune system can boost the chances you get this unpleasant infection.
Your medications or vitamins may be to blame.
Over 350 drugs across all major medication categories—including antihistamines, diabetes meds, antidepressants, and chemotherapy, as well as some vitamin and mineral supplements—can leave a bad taste in your mouth. Sometimes a medicine itself is responsible, but in other cases, the chemicals in a drug activate bitter taste receptors in your mouth. Paxlovid, an antiviral used to treat COVID, is perhaps one of the best known examples of this, so much so that this gross aftertaste has a name: Paxlovid mouth. And it’s not just oral meds. Drugs, vitamins, and minerals administered via IV—including lidocaine, iron, and B-vitamins—can give you a metallic taste in your mouth within seconds to minutes. Generally, you’re more likely to experience this if you’re older or taking several meds at once, research shows.
These weird aftertastes should disappear once your body processes the drugs you took, but don’t worry, there are things you can do in the meantime to help save your taste buds. For a quick fix, try chewing on ice or gum. But if you need to take your meds for a while (or even forever), try adding flavorful foods to your diet and frequently switching up what you eat to distract your taste buds from anything bitter. Another helpful tip: Take the time to really chew your food, which will help release all of the flavor molecules in your mouth.
Ultimately, remember that the best way to get rid of this metallic taste is to treat the root of the problem, so keep your doc in the loop, even if you think something relatively harmless is behind it.
—for free.
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