Salty Taste

• Salivary gland diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome, bacterial infection, over production of salty saliva in the mouth.
• Dehydration
• Infected Salivary Glands
• Liver congestion
• Postnasal drainage such as sinus infection causing the overproduction of mucous in the cavities which can alter the taste receptors on the tongue.
• Side effects of medications
• Neurological disorders
• Nutritional deficiencies – especially Zinc
• Insufficient healthy digestive bacteria

This question regarding a salty taste in your mouth requires further information, for example medication use, recent illnesses or changes in health, food allergies etc. A full consultation with a Health professional is required to get a properly researched picture of your overall condition.

• Generally many people will complain of an odd ‘sulphur’ or ‘chemical’ taste in their mouth after recent immune system or respiratory illness, and when coupled with a white/ grey coating on the tongue it is indicative of congestion.
• As a by product of immune system run off, congestion/ mucus may coat the tongue and effect our taste receptors on the tongue causing odd tastes to arise. If this is occurring for you then try scraping your tongue with an Ayurvedic tongue scraper after you brush your teeth. Take an Acidophilus supplement to ensure adequate bacteria is present in the digestive tract, gargle with cleansing Chlorophyll to rid the mouth of bad tastes.
• Dehydration can also cause a change of taste perception.
• An excess of heavy metals stored in the liver and circulating in the blood system is another possible cause of change of taste. Speaking to your healthcare professional and requesting a heavy metal test as well as a liver function test will help determine whether you have higher amounts of heavy metals in your system. Heavy metals from pollution, foods, chemicals and cigarette smoke can build in the system and compromise the health and vitality of the body often resulting in liver dysfunction, digestive complaints, a change in bowel habits, immune system weaknesses and altered senses of taste and smell.
• Liver congestion may also be a reason for this taste occuring as when the liver is burdened with excessive wastes it may send metabolic waste material to other areas of the body such as the skin, kidneys or respiratory tract to be eliminated from the body. This may be as a result of this waste matter accumulating in the digestive tract and causing a metallic/ salty taste in the mouth.
• A Zinc deficiency will often present symptoms of changes in tastes and smell or an odd taste in the mouth, some people liken it to a metallic taste. Many chemists/ health food stores will perform a Zinc taste test and I would suggest that you inquire whether any local retailers in your area will do this. Alternatively take a Zinc supplement of at least 20mg of elemental Zinc/ day for 2-3 weeks and observe whether the taste disappears. Increasing the amount of Zinc rich foods you consume in your diet will have a lasting effect on health and detoxification. Foods rich in the mineral Zinc are – red meats, nuts and seeds, oysters, grains, beans, eggs and ginger.