It’s never pleasant to have an unexplained taste in your mouth, especially when it’s salty and it lingers. This may leave you scratching your head and frantically reaching for the breath mints.
A salty taste isn’t uncommon, but it makes you wonder if you should be concerned. There are a variety of reasons why you may experience a salty taste.
7 Potential Reasons You Have a Salty Taste in Your Mouth
When you have a lingering salty taste, the first thing to address is potential dental issues. However, there are other possible reasons for the unpleasant flavor.
1. Dehydration
When you don’t drink enough water, your body develops an imbalance of salt and water levels. Saliva thickens with salty minerals, creating an undesirable taste. Other signs of dehydration are:
- Light-headedness
- Extreme thirst
- Dark-colored urine
- Decreased urination
- Confusion
- Exhaustion
Remember to drink plenty of water and other liquids daily, especially if you participate in rigorous exercise. You should consume at least six to eight glasses of fluids daily.
2. Reflux
If you have acid reflux, you may have a salty or sour taste in your mouth. Acid reflux happens when stomach acids flow into the throat, causing a variety of symptoms.
3. Post-Nasal Drip
Post-nasal drip happens because of common colds, sinus infections, and allergies. Regardless of the cause, it may make your mouth taste salty. As mucus overproduces, it drips down the back of your throat. It mixes with saliva, creating a metal-like taste.
4. Nutritional Deficiencies
When everything begins to taste salty, it may be due to a nutritional deficiency. Without certain nutrients, your body creates salty or metallic tastes in your mouth. These nutrient deficiencies can develop suddenly or over several years.
Other symptoms of a nutritional deficiency include:
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Behavioral changes
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss of sensation in your hands and feet
Speak with a medical provider to discuss how to treat your deficiency. You may be able to resolve it by taking over-the-counter vitamins.
5. Dry Mouth
Another name for dry mouth is xerostomia. It is one of the primary causes of a salty taste. This condition occurs because of the lack of saliva, but the cause ranges from age to medical side effects. Other signs of dry mouth include:
- A sticky feeling in your mouth
- Bad breath accompanied by a sore throat
- Hoarse voice
- Thick, salty saliva
Sometimes, dry mouth resolves on its own. Drinking lots of water and avoiding highly acidic, spicy, and salty foods can help alleviate dry mouth. Talk to your dental team about over-the-counter products that help you produce more saliva.
6. Blood in the Mouth
Sometimes, the cause of a salty taste is blood present in your mouth. Hard, crunchy foods can injure the soft tissues and make you bleed. Another cause of blood in your mouth can come from brushing too rigorously.
Appropriate brushing techniques and a soft-bristled brush will help protect your gum tissues and prevent gum disease, another reason your mouth may be bleeding. Gingivitis, a milder case, causes tender, swollen gums that often bleed. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontal disease, which requires more invasive treatment.
7. Infection in the Oral Cavity
When gum disease is detected early, it’s treatable. However, it can progress to a severe infection with painful complications. Aside from a salty taste and blood in the mouth, other lingering symptoms include:
- Foul breath
- Pus
- Loose teeth
- Gum abscess
Bleeding in the mouth can open the door for other infections, like oral thrush. This infection appears as white patches or a burning feeling. Some people lose their sense of taste altogether.
Get Professional Guidance for Your Symptoms
You don’t have to deal with your salty taste alone. Contact Dr. Payam Cohen DDS, PC in Forest Hills. We specialize in general dentistry and periodontics.