Hormone changes affect a woman’s sense of smell, so why would the sense of taste not be affected as well? Estrogen fluctuates widely during pregnancy, which could mean a nasty metallic taste in the mouth, also known as dysgeusia.
Causes of Metallic Taste, Dysgeusia
Estrogen is to blame for the change in sensitivity to certain scents during pregnancy. Due to the direct relationship between sense of smell and taste, it is thought that the same pregnancy hormone responsible for sensitivity to smell, causes metallic taste in the mouth upon waking. The effect of estrogen changes tend to calm down a bit in the second trimester, so the taste of pennies in the mouth will certainly fade as time goes on.
Important Facts About Metallic Taste
Dysgeusia is common, but many women do not talk about this reaction to increasing and fluctuating estrogen levels as much as they do morning sickness and sensitivity to smells. Time is on the side of new moms and as time passes and the body gets used to new estrogen levels, that horrible taste may fade and disappear all together.
Treatment for Metallic Taste
Food is the number one treatment for dysgeusia. Sour foods that are rich in citric acid are perfect, but not all sensitive mommy stomachs can handle the increase in acid. Sucking on Vitamin C drops can also help fight off the metallic taste and increase saliva to wash away the flavor as well. When in doubt, rinsing the mouth with orange juice can prevent issues with stomach sensitivity while providing some relief.