Your mouth may taste metallic if your kidneys fail.
A lot of people are shocked to find out that kidney problems can affect more than just urine and other body fluids. A strange metallic taste in the mouth is a common but often ignored sign of kidney failure. This taste can make food taste bad and make you less hungry. You can protect your health by taking action early if you know why this happens.
What makes kidney failure taste like metal
The kidneys are the body’s natural filters. They take out extra fluids and waste from your blood. When your kidneys start to fail, these waste products start to build up in your body. Urea is one of these waste products. Urea also gets into your saliva when it builds up in your blood. Urea breaks down into ammonia in the mouth, which makes a strong metallic or bitter taste.
If you don’t pay attention to this change in taste, it can also cause a loss of appetite, weight loss, and even malnutrition. People with kidney failure often say that their favorite foods start to taste like chemicals, iron, or metal. Some people even say that their breath always smells like metal, which is called uremic breath.
Another thing to think about is that kidney failure can make your mouth dry, which makes it easy for bacteria to grow. This can make the metallic taste worse and raise the risk of infections in the mouth. Also, some drugs used to treat kidney problems may change the way things taste.
The good news is that treating the kidney problem that is causing the bad taste by changing your diet, taking the right medicine, and sometimes getting dialysis often makes the taste better. Drinking enough water, keeping your mouth clean, and staying away from salty or very spicy foods can also help get rid of the metallic taste.
Kidney failure is a serious problem, but you shouldn’t ignore early signs like a metallic taste in your mouth. If you have this taste for more than a few days, especially if you also feel tired, have swollen legs, or notice changes in your urination, see a doctor right away. Getting a diagnosis early can help your kidneys and make you healthier overall.
