Many women find it surprising to experience a bitter taste in their mouth during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. This symptom, sometimes accompanied by a metallic or sour flavour, often comes and goes with varying intensity. For some, the bitter feeling in the mouth during pregnancy is temporary; for others, it may linger across trimesters.
Understanding why this occurs and how to deal with it can be such a relief. Let's explore the reasons, useful remedies and when to consider speaking to a professional.
The main cause of the foul-mouth taste during pregnancy is hormonal changes. To be more precise, the increase in the levels of estrogen may change how your taste buds register flavours. This is a medical phenomenon called dysgeusia and is extremely common in the first trimester.
A few other causes are:
● Acid reflux: The expanding uterus may press on the stomach, allowing acid to travel up through the oesophagus into the mouth.
● Vitamin supplements: Prenatal vitamins are necessary but may include iron or calcium with a metallic or bitter taste.
● Oral changes: Pregnancy can produce tender gums and heightened sensitivity that lead to sour or bitter taste.
● Increased sense of smell: Pregnant women possess a heightened sense, particularly smell, which affects the sense of taste.
For most, the bitter mouth taste throughout pregnancy starts during the first trimester and ceases when hormone levels reach a balance. However, each pregnancy is unique. Some will have it from time to time or constantly. To know that this is a normal and largely harmless symptom is reassuring.
If you’re searching for home remedies for a bitter taste in your mouth during pregnancy, here are some tried-and-tested approaches that may help:
● Citrus fruits: Consuming oranges and lemons or adding lemon to water can help neutralise the bitter sensation and refresh your palate.
● Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water throughout the day can help flush out lingering taste-altering compounds from the mouth.
● Saltwater rinse: Rinsing the mouth with salt water (½ teaspoon salt in warm water) may wash away bitterness and clear the mouth of bad taste.
● Good oral hygiene: Brushing teeth and tongue every day, flossing and using alcohol-free mouthwash will remove the bitter taste effectively.
● Ginger or mint teas: These tea infusions of herbs can calm the stomach and enhance the flavour of the mouth.
● Small, frequent meals: Taking small meals with increased frequency in place of taking large meals is likely to minimise acid reflux, thus preventing a bitter taste in the mouth during pregnancy.
Though you might not always be in a position to prevent dysgeusia, certain practices minimise its severity:
● Use non-metallic utensils while consuming food, as metal can sometimes react with certain dishes and alter their taste.
● Steer clear of fried, greasy or spicy foods that may cause acid reflux.
● Swish with a baking soda and water solution (¼ teaspoon baking soda in one cup of water) to stabilise mouth pH.
● Consider discussing with your doctor whether switching prenatal vitamins might be beneficial.
While a bitter taste in the mouth during pregnancy is generally not harmful, regular or severe symptoms must be brought to the notice of your doctor. In the event of nausea, vomiting or excessive salivation that limits your daily activities and is also accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth, consultation with the doctor is indicated.
At Cloudnine, we prioritise the comfort of women at each step of pregnancy. We believe that even mild symptoms, such as a bitter taste in the mouth during pregnancy, can affect your overall comfort. Our experienced gynaecologists are in close coordination with you to detect the reason behind such symptoms and give you personalised advice.
In addition to expert gynaecological care, Cloudnine also provides support through trained nutritionists who can suggest diet changes that could ease pregnancy symptoms. If you're concerned about taste changes, acidity or any other symptom of pregnancy, Cloudnine is here for you.
A bitter taste in the mouth during pregnancy can be disconcerting, but it's usually a component of normal early pregnancy. Spontaneous resolution or mere home care measures tend to resolve the issue. The addition of home remedies for bitter mouth taste during pregnancy, such as increased fluid consumption, strict oral hygiene, and avoidance of precipitants for reflux, can become a key factor.
If a persistent bitter mouth taste in pregnancy or an inconvenient one troubles you, don't wait to meet an expert. Cloudnine offers holistic treatment considering all the intricacies of a woman's pregnancy. Book your consultation with our experts and avail yourself of the support you need.
