Why Are You Tasting Blood in Your Mouth?

Dysgeusia is a change in the sense of taste, such as a sudden metallic taste in your mouth. There are many reasons why you are tasting blood in your mouth, including certain medications, ear surgery, infections like COVID-19, iron supplements to treat anemia, and pregnancy. It's also not uncommon to taste blood when running, which may be the result of the breakdown of red blood cells.

You usually do not need to be worried about a bad or weird taste in your mouth. Tasting metal in your mouth can sometimes be a sign of an illness or condition that warrants more concern and possibly a visit with a healthcare provider. Read on to learn why you may be tasting blood in your mouth and how to treat it.

1. Oral Health

Neglecting oral health can lead to bad breath, cavities, and even the taste of blood in your mouth. You may acquire inflammation or shrinkage of the gum tissue, called gingivitis or periodontitis. The altered anatomy of the oral tissue with these diseases may cause a metallic taste in the mouth.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is of the utmost importance. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that people brush their teeth for two minutes twice per day with a toothbrush that has soft bristles.

2. Exercise

Exercise may cause you to taste blood in your mouth with no blood. This can be related to the breakdown of red blood cells, which subsequently release small amounts of iron in the lungs, Lisa Lewis, MD, a pediatrician based in Texas, told Health. Irritated areas in the mouth, nose, or throat may also cause a metallic taste in the mouth if you are working out and breathing heavily.

Stop, rest, and check your mouth for blood. It's best to check in with a healthcare provider if you do see blood or the taste persists.

3. Infections

A loss of taste is one of the widely reported symptoms of COVID. It's not just the absence of taste that infections like COVID might cause. A case report published in 2020 article noted that a 59-year-old woman with COVID found that the foods she normally enjoyed tasted bland and metallic.

The exact reason why some people experience this symptom is not fully understood. It's not likely to be a permanent side effect, either. The researchers stated that the metallic taste went away about two weeks after the woman first noticed it.

It's not just COVID that can cause a metallic taste in the mouth. Colds, the flu, and other viral infections can also be culprits. This side effect usually resolves once the infection has been properly treated.

4. Medications and Vitamins

There's a chance that a medication you recently started could be responsible if you are tasting blood in your mouth. Medications that may cause a metallic taste include:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Antifungals
• Antihistamines
• Blood pressure drugs
• Diabetes medications
• Lithium
• Rifampin, which treats tuberculosis

A metallic taste is typically nothing to worry about and resolves on its own. The taste may be due to something else if it persists. Talk with a healthcare provider if you continue to taste blood in your mouth.

Supplements, especially those with heavy metals or iron, may cause a metallic taste. You might taste blood in your mouth if you take copper, iron, or zinc supplements.

5. Mild Trauma to the Mouth

You might have a metallic taste in your mouth if you're actually bleeding. Mild trauma to the mouth, such as if you accidentally bite the inside of your cheeks or eat crunchy foods, can lead to microbleeds. This happens if there are mild lacerations, but you do not have pain. 

6. Central Nervous System (CNS) Disorders

A blood-like taste in your mouth can sometimes mean something more serious. Altered taste is associated with central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as Bell's palsy and dementia. A metallic taste can be the result of weak signals from the underlying brain malfunction.

There have been uncommon case reports of a metallic or blood taste in the mouth as the first sign of CNS disorder. An alteration of taste is typically noted in combination with other neurological symptoms. Do not automatically assume you have one of these disorders if you taste blood in your mouth.

7. Ear Health

Research has shown that dysgeusia can be a side effect of middle ear and ear tube surgery in people with chronic ear infections. Dysgeusia may result from damage to the chorda tympani, a cranial nerve that controls taste. A healthcare provider may prescribe amitriptyline, which is an antidepressant, to reduce a metallic taste.

8. Gut Health

Certain gastrointestinal (GI) conditions can affect taste. You may develop a metallic taste if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux. GERD causes stomach acid to flow backward through the esophagus. The stomach acid may cause a metallic taste.

Some people with gastroparesis may also develop a metallic taste. Gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying, causes food to move slowly from your stomach to your small intestine.

9. Pregnancy

Pregnancy can have an impact on everything from your appetite to how frequently you use the restroom. You probably know that the experience can also alter your senses if you have been pregnant.

Pregnancy is one of the more common causes of a metallic taste in the mouth. It's likely due to the hormone changes that arise during this period. Some pregnancy-induced changes can be permanent, but a metallic taste typically resolves itself.

10. Chemical Exposure

Chemical exposure may cause a taste disturbance. Research has shown that inorganic arsenic and organic mercury may cause a metallic taste. Inorganic arsenic, for example, is often found in pesticides.

11. Chemotherapy and Radiation

Some evidence suggests that a metallic taste in the mouth is common among people with cancer. People undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy may report tasting blood in their mouths. These treatments can damage the cells in your mouth, causing that metallic taste. 

Treatment and Prevention

Treating the underlying cause can relieve a metallic taste in the mouth. It can be difficult to stop tasting blood in the mouth due to certain causes, such as pregnancy and chemotherapy. You may be able to mask the unpleasant taste in these cases.

Ways to prevent tasting blood in the mouth include:

• Brushing your teeth at least twice per day and after meals
• Chewing gum or sucking on mints
• Drinking plenty of water
• Not smoking

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Do not ignore tasting blood in your mouth, even if you do not think the underlying cause is serious. Call or visit a healthcare provider, especially if you are not exactly sure why you are experiencing this change.

You'll probably have other new or unusual symptoms if you do have a metallic taste in your mouth because of a severe problem. Contact a healthcare provider if a metal taste does not go away or occurs with other symptoms.

A Quick Review

You may be tasting blood in your mouth for several reasons. Possible causes include certain medications, ear surgery, infections like COVID, iron supplements to treat anemia, and pregnancy. It's important to see a healthcare provider if a metallic cause does not go away on its own or occurs with other symptoms. They can help diagnose and treat the underlying cause.