Blood from the mouth: probable causes and what to do about it

Soldatova Lyudmila Nikolaevna

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Dentistry of the St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, Chief Physician of the Alfa-Dent Dental Clinic, St. Petersburg

The taste of blood in the mouth is quite common. However, this symptom should never be ignored. Of course, the reasons for its appearance can be quite harmless, for example, a slight injury to the gums or eating food from clay dishes. However, an unpleasant taste can also indicate very dangerous pathologies. Let's figure out why a metallic taste may appear in the mouth and what to do to eliminate it as soon as possible, and most importantly, remove the reasons for its appearance.

Conventionally, all the causes of a pronounced metallic taste can be divided into three groups:

• Dental problems are usually associated with increased bleeding of the gums.
• Oral injuries.
• Internal pathologies.

Taking various medications often leads to a taste of blood in the mouth.

general characteristics

A pathological disorder of taste perception is called dysgeusia.
Such a “perversion” of taste sensations can be a sign of the development of neurological, hormonal, mental disorders and other diseases, including those caused by a deficiency of certain substances in the body. If the taste of the products remains unchanged, this diagnosis can be excluded. In this case, we are talking about the temporary persistence of an unusual taste in the mouth, and most often the problem disappears when the cause of its appearance is eliminated.

Why does it occur in the morning?

Unpleasant sensations that occur only in the morning indicate the presence of chronic pathologies in the body.

1. Diseases of the ENT organs . Infection of the nasopharynx leads to the fact that the mucous membranes in this area become thinner and become covered with erosions. After a night's sleep, a large amount of mucus forms in the nasopharynx, which, when dried, injures the tissues of the throat and nose.
2. Bronchial asthma . When the disease occurs, the oral mucosa dries out and the function of taste buds is impaired.
3. Exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - stomach ulcer, gastritis, inflammation of the pancreas, cholecystitis.
4. Heart dysfunction . The pathology occurs against a background of chest pain, shortness of breath and cough in the morning.

Causes of taste in mouth

Throat diseases may be accompanied by an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Photo: imagepointfr / Depositphotos Reasons for an unusual taste in the mouth may include:

• diseases of the teeth, gums and oral mucosa;
• pathologies of the ENT organs (nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses);
• unbalanced diet;
• diseases of the stomach and gall bladder;
• hormonal and neurological disorders;
• intoxication with chemicals.

In women, a change in taste can be a sign of pregnancy; in men, it is rarely associated with physiological conditions and hormonal surges. At the same time, diseases of the nervous, respiratory systems, or even cancer can lead to the development of symptoms. Doctors will help you understand the cause of the symptom: in this case, an integrated approach to examination and treatment is necessary.

Causes of blood taste in mouth

The characteristic taste of blood most often indicates increased bleeding of the gums. Also, such a taste can be a symptom of diseases of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis).

Other reasons for feeling blood in the mouth:

• diseases of the bronchi and lungs (acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, lung abscess);
• disorders of the hematopoietic system;
• diabetes;
• renal failure;
• oncological diseases;
• internal bleeding.

In addition, the sensation of blood in the mouth may be associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT):

• esophagitis;
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• chronic gastritis;
• liver pathologies.

The taste of blood may occur due to biting the mucous membranes of the cheeks or tongue. In this case, it is enough to actively rinse your mouth with antiseptic solutions, for example, chlorhexidine, throughout the day.

Causes of bitter taste in mouth

An unpleasant bitter taste may appear in the morning after waking up or several hours after eating.

Common causes of a bitter taste in the mouth:

• Pathologies of the liver and gallbladder (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, gallbladder kinks), stagnation of bile - at a certain point, its excess leaves through the bile ducts, enters the stomach and penetrates the esophagus.
• Indigestion. Slowing intestinal motility leads to retention of undigested food in the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to fermentation processes and the appearance of a characteristic taste in the mouth.
• Neurological pathologies (Alzheimer's disease, consequences of traumatic brain injury).
• Pregnancy.

Symptoms can also be caused by hormonal disorders, parasitic infections, or taking certain medications (antibiotics, antiallergic drugs, chemotherapy drugs).

At home you can get rid of the symptom with:

• eating small meals frequently;
• compliance with the water regime;
• rinse your mouth with a spoon of baking soda.

However, after eating, the sensations usually disappear for some time.

Causes of a metallic taste in the mouth

This symptom is often confused with the taste of blood, but other conditions can cause a strong sensation of “metal” in the mouth:

• chemical poisoning with heavy metals (mercury, copper, lead, arsenic);
• taking certain medications (iron supplements for anemia, antiparasitic drugs, pills to lower blood pressure);
• galvanosis - disruption of electrochemical processes in the oral cavity due to metal prostheses, implants, piercings;
• “burning mouth syndrome”, insufficient salivation and dry mouth;
• impaired kidney function (excessive accumulation of metabolic products);
• endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, Fig. 1);
• period of hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause).

The symptom can also appear due to everyday reasons:

• insufficient purification of drinking water;
• storing food in aluminum containers.

To relieve the metallic taste, you can try rinsing your mouth with salt and water, eating foods with intense flavors, and adding more natural spices. It is also important to temporarily switch to cutlery made from non-metallic materials.

Figure 1: A metallic taste in the mouth may indicate a serious medical condition. Source: Verywell Health

Causes of sweet taste in mouth

A sweetish taste that is not associated with an excess of desserts in the diet may be a sign of:

• dental pathologies;
• diabetes mellitus;
• pregnancy;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• neurological pathologies (stroke, epilepsy);
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease);
• bacterial infections - some microorganisms (streptococci, staphylococci) produce enzymes with a specific taste;
• pesticide poisoning.

You can try to get rid of this feeling by giving up sweets. Also, in the fight against taste, it is necessary to avoid smoking, drink enough fluids throughout the day and carefully observe the rules of oral hygiene.

Causes of acetone taste in the mouth

The reason for this taste and smell of “nail polish remover” from the mouth is most often the excessive content of special substances of fat metabolism - ketone bodies.

As a rule, the symptom appears with diabetes mellitus, but can also accompany other conditions:

• following a keto diet (Fig. 2);
• fasting or drinking too much fluid;
• kidney damage (glomerulonephritis, renal failure);
• excessive alcohol consumption;
• liver pathologies.

Figure 2: Following a keto diet may cause your breath to smell like acetone.
Source: Sewcream / Depositphotos You can get rid of the characteristic smell of acetone using natural breath fresheners, using dental floss and drinking water with lemon.

Important! If you experience a taste of acetone in your mouth, you should reconsider your diet and abandon alternative foods that do not contain sugar - a carbohydrate-free diet often leads to ketoacidosis.

Preventive measures

To avoid gum problems, you must follow a number of simple rules:

1. Perform high-quality and correct hygiene procedures aimed at oral health. It is necessary to select care products that will not injure the mucous membrane. You should brush your teeth morning and evening. Use dental floss with caution. Instead, you can use an irrigator, which will help effectively remove food debris. Your toothbrush should be changed every three months.
2. Balance your diet. The body must receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals. To strengthen teeth and gums, it is important to eat solid plant foods, such as apples and carrots.
3. Give up bad habits, in particular smoking. Toothpicks should be used with caution.
4. Regularly undergo preventive examinations at the dentist - at least twice a year. This will allow timely detection of oral diseases.

Paying close attention to your oral health will help you maintain a beautiful and healthy smile for many years.

Help before diagnosis

In most cases, the following help to get rid of the symptom:

• keeping the oral cavity clean;
• regular and balanced nutrition;
• cessation of smoking, alcohol abuse;
• drink enough fluid during the day;
• moderate activity after meals.

You can temporarily remove the taste by thoroughly brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth with water and lemon juice or baking soda, chewing gum, or special mouth fresheners.

Symptoms accompanying gum disease

Pathologies that cause blood from the mouth may be accompanied by a number of other unpleasant symptoms:

• swelling of the gums;
• pain when pressing or eating solid foods (sometimes the pain is quite severe);
• itching and discomfort in the gum tissue;
• bad breath;
• tooth mobility (with advanced dental diseases).

Even if nothing bothers you throughout the day, and blood appears only when brushing your teeth, this may indicate a problem.

When to see a doctor?

Eliminating the cause of the development of a symptom most often completely eliminates all its manifestations, so it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner (Table 1).
Table 1. Taste in the mouth: when should you seek medical help?

How to quickly stop bleeding from gums

What to do if you need to quickly stop bleeding from your gums? For this purpose, you can use one of the following methods:

1. Rinse your mouth with cold water or mint mouthwash. Decoctions of herbs - chamomile, oak bark, fir, calendula - help reduce the manifestations of unwanted symptoms.
2. Apply a cotton swab soaked in chlorhexidine to the bleeding area. You need to press it tightly and wait until the bleeding stops.
3. Glue a special protective homeopathic strip. You can buy it at the pharmacy.

No matter how long your gums bleed, you cannot put off a visit to the dentist. The problem will not go away on its own, but will only get worse.

Diagnostics

The first step in finding the cause of an unpleasant taste in the mouth should be a trip to the dentist: he will immediately determine the possible connection of the symptom with diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues.

If the problem does not go away, you should consult a therapist: a specialist will help you understand the likely causes of the symptom. For an accurate diagnosis, the results of the following studies may be needed:

• clinical and biochemical blood tests (liver, kidney tests, glucose levels, lipid profile);
• tests to evaluate thyroid function;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS);
• pH-metry of the stomach;
• tests for Helicobacter pylori infection;
• electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head.

The choice of diagnostic algorithm depends on the most likely cause of the development of an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Possible complications

Ignoring the symptoms of minor hemoptysis can lead to the development of massive bleeding.
It causes the airways to fill with blood, which blocks access to air. As a result, death from asphyxia (suffocation) may occur. Death is also possible with heavy blood loss, amounting to about 4–4.5% of the total body weight. If left untreated, the disease that caused hemoptysis continues to progress and cause complications. With cancer, metastases appear, with pneumonia and tuberculosis - fibrosis of the lung tissue, with bronchiectasis - bleeding, abscess, infarction and necrosis of the lung.

Treatment

The best and most effective method of treating a symptom is to eliminate the cause of its occurrence. If the bad taste in your mouth is caused by a dental problem, it is important to get rid of tooth decay or other diseases as soon as possible.

If an unpleasant taste occurs due to pathology of certain organs and metabolic disorders, the doctor prescribes treatment for the underlying disease.

Conservative therapy

Depending on the characteristics of the symptom, to eliminate it, the doctor may prescribe drugs from the following groups:

• antiseptics;
• antacids;
• choleretic drugs;
• hypoglycemic agents;
• antidotes and detoxification drugs.

The doctor selects treatment individually. The treatment regimen depends on the causes of the taste, its severity, concomitant diseases and other features of the clinical case.

Sometimes, to get rid of the taste in the mouth, you have to resort to medications. Photo by JESHOOTS.com: Pexels

Physiotherapy

Methods of physiotherapeutic treatment in cases of unpleasant taste in the mouth help to cope with chronic inflammatory and metabolic processes, and eliminate other symptoms of pathology.

For example, for diseases of the ENT organs, rinsing with sea salt solutions, ultrasound treatment and UV irradiation, and therapeutic inhalations are used.

Warming procedures are contraindicated for patients with acute conditions - inflammation, likelihood of bleeding, severe pain.

The danger of hepatosis during pregnancy

The affected liver is not able to cleanse the body of harmful substances, which leads to intoxication of the mother and a deterioration in her well-being. Surprisingly, from the very first day after birth, the disease begins to quickly recede and soon leaves no trace behind. After 1-2 weeks, blood counts return to normal. Even if hepatosis recurs in several pregnancies in a row, it does not make any visible changes in the woman’s liver. However, this does not mean that this disease is harmless. It disrupts the metabolism between mother and fetus, thereby adversely affecting the child. It has been proven that hepatosis increases the likelihood of perinatal mortality by 5%, and in 35% of pregnancies occurring against the background of this disease, hypoxia, prematurity and delay in fetal development were observed.