Bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy

Bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy

Pregnancy brings in a whole new wave of joy and excitement in a woman’s life. Along with the joy it brings in many changes that take place in a woman’s body. They are mixed changes. Some bring in sheer joy and some bring in the discomforts. Mood swings, cramps, nausea, food craving are all part of being pregnant. These changes are inevitable and mostly make women worried or bothering. Once such change and bothering condition is the bitter taste in mouth. [hana-code-insert name=’rectangle’ /]This is not a serious issue but does make the expectant mother bother and feel uncomfortable. So let’s have a look at the causes behind the bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy.

Causes of bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy

The bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy is termed medially as Dysgeusia. This medical condition is not serious and happens commonly in pregnant women. The actual cause behind this bitter taste hasn’t been found yet. In this condition the expecting mother experiences a lasting unpleasant, bitter, sour and acidic taste in mouth. It is mostly estimated by doctors round the world that this happens due to the hormonal changes in the body which affects the sense of taste and smell of the expecting mother. There is an increase in the production of oestrogen hormone in the body. This hormone is mainly responsible for the changes in taste and smell sense. The taste buds in the mouth grow bigger during this phase and leave a bitter taste in mouth. Apart from this the antibiotics and prenatal vitamins are also a major cause for bitterness in mouth during pregnancy.

Treatment for bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy

The bad taste in mouth that happens during pregnancy sometimes causes bad breath too so it is better to treat it. The bitter taste alone is very common symptom during pregnancy and doesn’t require much of your attention, but if it affects your diet and eating habits it must be treated. The treatments for getting rid of that bitter taste are given below.

  1. Brush your teeth twice a day and use a good mouth wash every time you consume something. A minty toothpaste or mouthwash helps greatly.
  2. A solution of baking soda and water helps neutralising the pH level in mouth hence removing the bitter taste in mouth.
  3. Chewing fresh mint leaves or mind flavoured mouth fresheners are also of great help.
  4. Citrus fruit juices deal effectively with the bitter taste. Lemonade is also a good option.
  5. Using vinegar in food helps increase saliva production and helps you ward off the bitter taste in mouth.
  6. Drinking plenty of water also helps. So increase your intake of water to get rid of the bitter taste in mouth during pregnancy.

Please note that all the treatments above must be followed after consulting your gynaecologist.