Bitterness In The Mouth: Causes And What To Do

A bitter taste in the mouth can be caused by a range of conditions, ranging from poor oral hygiene, bad habits, to more serious digestive conditions. In most cases, the bitter taste disappears after the underlying cause is removed.

Causes of bitterness in the mouth

• diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, oral candidiasis);
• imbalance of the intestinal flora (syndrome of excessive bacterial and fungal growth) and helminthiases, viral diseases;
• diseases of the digestive system and biliary system (gastritis, reflux disease, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, chronic duodenitis, hepatitis, dyspepsia);
• deficiencies of B vitamins (B9, B12, B6), zinc and iron;
• side effects of taking medications (antibiotics, antidepressants);
• pregnancy and menopause in women;
• stress, anxiety and depression.

In clinical practice, bitterness in the mouth is considered as a symptom of a number of diseases and metabolic disorders, hormonal changes. The main causes of bitterness in the mouth are called diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Bitterness in the mouth can be either constant or not - appear in the morning, after eating or after taking the drug - and may be accompanied by nausea, in some cases vomiting.

Let us consider in more detail the most common causes of bitterness in the mouth.

1. Poor oral hygiene

This problem often occurs after waking up. A bitter taste can occur due to the accumulation of bacteria in the interdental spaces and around the gums. Bacteria accumulate and form plaque.

What to do: brush your teeth twice a day, it is also important to clean the tongue from plaque; use dental floss to remove interdental deposits; stop smoking; rinse your mouth with herbal decoction of chamomile, cloves, mint and thyme or coconut oil; visit the dentist in a timely manner.

2. Imbalance of intestinal flora and helminthiases

As a result of the multiplication of bacteria and fungi in the intestine, intra-abdominal pressure increases, which leads to an exacerbation of GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease.

3. GERD (heartburn, acid reflux)

The valve between the esophagus and stomach should normally keep gastric juice in the stomach. But, if it is weak or damaged, the acid causes a burning sensation, as well as a sour and bitter taste in the mouth. Acid reflux is a condition where stomach acid enters the esophagus, causing heartburn.

What to do: First of all, you need to start with nutrition and restoration of the gastric mucosa. You should limit the use of certain foods:

• with a high content of trans fats (pastries, industrial cakes, dishes with mayonnaise);
• enhancing gas formation (for example, legumes, white cabbage);
• increasing acidity (sour fruits, berries, black coffee, onions, garlic, chocolate, strong meat broths).

To heal the mucosa, add baked apples, flax seeds, turmeric, bone broth, baked meat and fish, baked vegetables. After eating, avoid deep and sharp tilts of the torso and do not lie down for two hours after eating; do not tighten the stomach after eating with a tight belt.

For normal recovery of the gastrointestinal tract, the last meal should be no later than three hours before bedtime.

Do not overeat, eat in a relaxed atmosphere, chew food thoroughly. Minimize alcohol and smoking.

4. Diseases of the gallbladder and liver

Bile is a secretion that is produced in the liver and is used to digest foods containing fat, and therefore plays a key role in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. From the liver, bile enters the gallbladder through the bile duct and, during digestion, from the gallbladder enters the duodenum. With excessive consumption of fatty foods, too much bile is formed, and with diseases of the liver and gallbladder, bile may not come out completely and stagnate, which leads to bitterness in the mouth.

This process may be accompanied by icteric staining of the skin and mucous membranes, swelling and enlargement of the liver. In the analysis of feces (coprogram), undigested fatty acids (soaps) can be seen. Feces become pasty, greasy, difficult to wash off the walls of the toilet.

What to do: Keep your liver and gallbladder healthy by following a nutritious diet. Give up bad habits and contact a nutritionist for an individual analysis of nutrition.

5. Medication

There are some medicines that cause bitterness in the mouth. These may include antibiotics, gout medications, and treatments for heart disease.

The active substances of antibiotics are metabolized and excreted by the liver. The liver perceives them as toxins, therefore, during or after taking antibiotics, there are complaints of pain in the liver and bitterness in the mouth.

Bitterness may appear due to dysbacteriosis due to antibiotics. Under normal conditions, beneficial bacteria live in the human intestine, capable of synthesizing vitamins, neurotransmitters and strengthening the immune system. Antibiotics destroy the normal microflora, an imbalance occurs, which leads to dysbacteriosis.

Bitterness in the mouth can be a side effect of taking antihistamine (anti-allergic) drugs.

Changes in taste in the mouth are temporary and should stop when changing the drug.

What to do: If after taking a new drug, the bitter taste does not disappear within a few days, you should contact your doctor to find an alternative.

6. Vitamin deficiency

The taste of bitterness in the mouth can be associated with a serious deficiency of vitamins and nutrients that are essential for the proper functioning of the body, including gustatory and olfactory functions.

But it should be noted that both deficiency and excess, for example, zinc can cause bitterness in the mouth.

Iron deficiency causes taste distortion. His status can be assessed by complete blood count, serum iron and ferritin levels. Bitterness in the mouth may appear due to a deficiency in the body of vitamin B12. To make up for the lack of this vitamin, you need to eat foods that contain it. Mostly these are products of animal origin. Vitamin B12 is found in beef liver, cheese, cottage cheese, sardines, rabbit meat, milk, and non-activated yeast.

What to do: get tested for deficiencies and consult a nutritionist.

Remember that the questionnaire is for informational purposes and does not replace laboratory diagnostics.

7. Pregnancy

During pregnancy, bitterness in the mouth has two causes: hormonal and anatomical.

Hormonal cause: estrogen and progesterone help reduce gastrointestinal motility and slow down the digestion process. These hormones block the contractile activity of muscle tissue, which leads to biliary dyskinesia, atony of the gallbladder and intestines. During the first trimester of pregnancy, progesterone relaxes the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus, causing acid to back up into the esophagus. Bitterness, nausea and vomiting - all these unpleasant symptoms are often called toxicosis.

The pancreas produces more of the hormone glucagon, which activates the synthesis of ketone bodies in the liver, which causes bitterness during pregnancy.

Anatomical reason: during pregnancy, an increase in the uterus leads to a displacement of the digestive organs and the entire gastrointestinal tract, which can also provoke bends and clamps and, as a result, bitterness in the mouth. Such problems occur in late pregnancy. To reduce discomfort, you should follow a diet: exclude fried, sour, eat in small portions, and also avoid drinking liquids with meals. Do not neglect yoga and fitness for pregnant women - this helps to maintain lymph flow and bile outflow.

8. Stress

Cortisol, a stress hormone, has a destructive effect on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. When you experience negative emotions, not getting enough sleep, eating irregularly, you increase your cortisol levels.

Use anti-stress practices and meditation to lower your cortisol levels.

Diagnosis of bitterness in the mouth

The first and main advice is to contact a generalist and do not self-medicate. Due to the fact that bitterness in the mouth can be a symptom of many diseases, a comprehensive examination by specialists from different fields will be required to clarify the problem:

• life and illness history - nutrition, daily routine, physical activity, bad habits, including a list of all medications taken;
• complete blood count and biochemical - helps to detect inflammation, check liver function, deficiencies and allergic reactions;
• bakposev (stool analysis for the bacteriological composition of the flora) - helps to detect dysbacteriosis;
• coprogram - helps to detect problems in the digestive tract and digestion of fats;
• blood test for antibodies to hepatitis and herpes viruses;
• gastroscopy;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs - helps to detect the presence of stones, to detect diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas, liver.

For example, if there is no reason to assume the presence of diseases of the oral cavity and bitterness in the mouth is accompanied by pain in the right side, nausea, heartburn and bloating, the therapist will refer you to a gastroenterologist.

The set of specific diagnostic methods will depend on the specifics of the manifestation of this symptom. Time of occurrence, for example.

Bitterness in the mouth in the morning

It is more common in pathologies of the gallbladder, biliary tract and liver.

Bitterness in the mouth after eating

There are foods and substances that can cause a bitter taste, such as pine nuts, St. John's wort or sea buckthorn oil.

If the food was too fatty, spicy, of poor quality, and even in large quantities, bitterness in the mouth immediately after eating is the physiological result of overloading the entire digestive system.

If bitterness appeared about an hour after eating, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and duodenum can be suspected.

Bitterness in the mouth after eating and heartburn

There is a possibility of gastritis and GERD.

Constant bitterness in the mouth throughout the day

Can be felt with cholecystitis, bending of the gallbladder, liver failure.

Bitterness is present situationally

This nature of the problem can indicate medication, smoking, stress, and even allergies.

Bitter taste and bad breath

In this situation, dental problems and problems with the gastrointestinal tract are possible.

Correction of bitterness in the mouth

This unpleasant condition is a signal of the presence of a disease. This is a consequence, not a cause.

Therefore, it is important, in addition to a temporary improvement in the quality of life with the help of drugs, under the supervision of specialists, to look for the cause, globally change the lifestyle and treat the diseases that cause this symptom.

Just as it is impossible to list all the possible causes of this symptom, it is also impossible to describe all the ways to eliminate bitterness in the mouth. In one case, lifestyle changes are sufficient, while in the other, complex, highly specialized treatment is needed. We will share simple tips that will help prevent the disease or even stop its development:

• during pregnancy, you should follow the rules of good nutrition;
• carefully monitor oral hygiene;
• diversify the diet and give up "empty" food, fatty and heavy, spicy and smoked foods;
• establish a sleep and rest regimen, as well as learn how to cope with stressful situations;
• give up alcohol, smoking;
• monitor the status of vitamins and minerals.