Metallic taste during pregnancy
Does an irritating metallic or tinny taste in your mouth mean you're pregnant?
Believe it or not, having a metallic taste in your mouth is actually quite a common pregnancy symptom (joy ? ) - although it can be related to other things too, like certain medicines (antidepressants and antibiotics), kidney stones, high blood pressure or diabetes.
So, if you taste buds start to get a bit tinny - it's worth seeing your doctor just in case.
What causes the metallic taste in pregnancy?
A metallic taste in your mouth is a surprisingly common sign of pregnancy. Called dysgeusia, it is assumed to be caused by hormone fluctuations, but doctors are not 100% sure.
Hormones such as oestrogen fluctuate wildly in the first trimester as your they sort your body out for the tough task of carrying a baby for the next six months.
And oestrogen in particular can cause changes to the way your tongue and brain recognise flavours.
As your oestrogen levels change, so may your tastes. This can mean you feel like you’re sucking on pennies! Or that food and drink you used to love may not taste as good as you remember. Boo ?
How do I get rid of the taste of metal?
Acidic food and drink can help. Citric juices or lemonade and sour flavours like vinegar can help neutralise the taste in your mouth. And pickled onions and gherkins might help hit the spot with those cravings too!
You can also wash your mouth out with salty water (only a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water – you don’t want morning sickness rearing its ugly head!) to balance the pH in your mouth.
It might also be worth chatting to your GP about your choice of antenatal supplements, as these seem to vary in their effect.
Not sure if you're pregnant? Check out our guide to the early signs of pregnancy.
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Authors
Tara is mum to 1 daughter, Bodhi Rae, and has worked as Content Editor and Social Media Producer at MadeForMums since 2015
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