Many of us experience an unusual condition called dysgeusia at some point in our health journeys. It’s when familiar foods suddenly taste off. Sweet or salty foods may taste bland, while others can have a metallic or bitter flavor, leading to reduced appetite and weight loss.

Even mild-tasting foods, like mashed potatoes, can seem unappealing. It’s not a taste hallucination but a distortion that your brain can’t recognize. You might swear the potatoes are rancid, even though your dining companions don’t taste what you do!

Imagine sipping juice, but it tastes like rusty nails. That might suggest an iron overload if it were water, but you get the idea—something neutral now tastes awful!

Even dietary supplements, which should be flavorless (especially in capsule form), can taste bad to someone with dysgeusia—sometimes metallic, rancid or bitter. Don’t worry, it’s not a conspiracy. Ask someone else to try them to confirm it’s just your taste buds acting up.

Why does this happen? There are various reasons, including some medical conditions. For instance, many COVID-19 patients experienced distorted taste and smell, making post-recovery dining a strange experience. Hypothyroidism, when your thyroid is underactive, can also affect your taste buds, making sweet and salty foods taste funky. Fortunately, in both cases, the problem is temporary. 

Here are four practical strategies to help:

1. Stay informed and calm. 

Dysgeusia is a sensory quirk, not a permanent change in flavor.

2. Maintain good oral hygiene. 

Make dental floss your best friend. Go to a dentist for a deep cleaning and checkup because infections and gum disease cause dysgeusia. Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day. Good oral hygiene is important for fresh breath and normal tongue health.

3. Tweak your diet. 

Experiment with different flavors and textures. Certain tastes can counteract the strange ones. Try ginger ale or club soda, because the fizziness is distracting. Foods that don’t have to be cooked (like sandwiches) might be easier to stomach.

4. Stay hydrated. 

Dry mouth and dehydration can amp up taste distortions. Drink plenty of water or electrolytes to keep yourself in balance.

Some medications and medical conditions are known to cause dysgeusia. For example, blood pressure pills are common culprits.

Remember, dysgeusia is usually temporary—a short-term side effect.