Sour Taste In Mouth
All of us experience a sour taste in the mouth when we get up in the morning. Have you ever wondered why does our mouth taste this way? The phenomenon referred as sour taste in mouth actually has a lot many theories to describe its origin, but sadly, very few of them are conclusive enough. Sour taste could be due to lack of saliva in the mouth or dry mouth, vitamin deficiencies, chronic and periodontal diseases, certain drug intake or even neurological disorder. If this problem is persistent, you should first try concluding your own cause and then treat it accordingly. If required, consult your physician to treat the cause from the root. This article provides you with a list of causes, which lead to sour taste in the mouth. Causes Of Sour Taste In Mouth Anaerobic Bacteria Anaerobic bacteria produce sulfur like smell in the mouth. Dwelling at the back of the tongue, they lend a sour taste to the mouth. During the day, the bacterial functioning in the mouth does not succeed due to the secretion of saliva, as one of the characteristic features of saliva being breaking down the anaerobic bacteria. As such, while one is sleeping, there is a high growth of bacteria in the mouth, due to a drop in the saliva secretion. Due to this very reason, a person experiences both bad breath and a lingering sour taste in the mouth. The bacteria accumulate and form a thick coating on the tongue, which tastes sour. Post Nasal Drip Another cause of sour taste in the mouth is post nasal drip. The mucus in the nose is rich in protein and provides a good breeding ground for bacteria. As a result, the bacteria multiply on a large scale and get accumulated at the back of the tongue. This leads to a sour taste in mouth, which also explains the reason as to why a person prone to sinus infection has a perpetual sour taste in his mouth. Heartburn If you are suffering from heartburn, you are likely to have a sour taste in the mouth. When one eats food, it passes through the esophagus and enters the stomach. A muscle called lower esophageal sphincter or LES lies between the esophagus and stomach and acts as a valve. As soon as the digestive process begins, the stomach releases several acids and gastric juices to digest the ingested food. If the LES gets weak and does not open or close appropriately on time, the undigested lump of food as well as gastric acids reflux into the esophagus. This results in burning sensation in the chest and throat, leaving a sour taste in the mouth. Zenker’s Diverticulum Zenker’s Diverticulum is a disorder, which leads to the development of a pocket or pouch in the esophagus. Usually seen in older adults, under this condition, the decayed food particles get stored in the pouch. When one is lying down after consuming a meal, the food particles tend to fall out of the pouch and enter the throat. This causes severe choking and coughing and also lends a sour taste in the mouth. Deficiencies/ Disorders Certain vitamin deficiencies like Vitamin B12 can cause sour taste in mouth. Even gum infections leads to a sour taste. A lot of pregnant women complain of frequent cases of sour taste in the mouth. This is mainly due to acid reflux. During pregnancy, there is excessive body pressure on the stomach which leads to further pressure on the LES. When this happens, the undigested food spurts back into the esophagus and the person experiences sour taste in the mouth along with few other annoying symptoms. Obese people have the same complaint. Even certain drugs are capable of invoking the sour taste in the mouth. Periodontal disease or any sort of infection in the gum or tooth can also be the reason for sour taste in the mouth. Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and respiratory disorders also contribute to sour taste in mouth.
Beauty tips in urdu
Lips Care tips
Phantom Sour Taste in Mouth A certain neurological disorder in which the olfactory nerves misinterpret a smell as offensive when it is actually not, leads to an illusionary sense of sour taste in the mouth. Quite often, the sour taste in the mouth is followed by epileptic seizures. This is a grave medical condition and if one experiences the sour taste in the mouth for a long time, it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
QUESTION:
What to do about breath that smells like sour milk?
My friend’s breath smells like rotten/sour milk, usually only after drinking and particularly after drinking beer. It can take just a few sips of beer, and boom! His breath stinks, and not like normal bad breath but really sour, like a baby’s after it falls asleep with a bottle or something. He chews a lot of gum, brushes regularly, drinks water. What about drinking alcohol would make someone’s breath smell like this?-
ANSWER:
Use Listerine.
-
-
QUESTION:
15 month old has really sour breath, assuming it is his stomach, what can i use to help this?
He just had tubes put in his ears and his adeniods taken out about 5 days ago. His breath smells so bad. Kinda like a rotten egg. Is there any way to help this, like is it his stomach or what?-
ANSWER:
Its probably the drainage from the adenoid removal/ stitches dissolving. Have him drink plenty of water and maybe some juice. It should be gone in about 4-5 days. If not let your pediatrician know, bad breath is also a sing of juvinile diabetis
-
-
QUESTION:
What can I do about my baby’s breath smelling like sour milk?
I breastfeed my 3 week old. She spits up alot and her breath smells like sour milk. Is there anything I should be doing for her?-
ANSWER:
If it really bugs you you could wipe her gums with a damp cloth. But that is about it. Personally I wouldn’t do anything.Oh and about spitting up:
My baby spits up – is this a problem?
Spitting up, sometimes called physiological or uncomplicated reflux, is common in babies and is usually (but not always) normal. Most young babies spit up sometimes, since their digestive systems are immature, making it easier for the stomach contents to flow back up into the esophagus (the tube connecting mouth to stomach).
Babies often spit up when they get too much milk too fast. This may happen when baby feeds very quickly or aggressively, or when mom’s breasts are overfull. The amount of spitup typically appears to be much more than it really is. If baby is very distractible (pulling off the breast to look around) or fussy at the breast, he may swallow air and spit up more often. Some babies spit up more when they are teething, starting to crawl, or starting solid foods.
A few statistics (for all babies, not just breastfed babies):
Spitting up usually occurs right after baby eats, but it may also occur 1-2 hours after a feeding.
Half of all 0-3 month old babies spit up at least once per day.
Spitting up usually peaks at 2-4 months.
Many babies outgrow spitting up by 7-8 months.
Most babies have stopped spitting up by 12 months.
If your baby is a ‘Happy Spitter’ –gaining weight well, spitting up without discomfort and content most of the time — spitting up is a laundry & social problem rather than a medical issue.[see more at the link below]
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/reflux.html
-
-
QUESTION:
Dog’s breath smells like sour milk what could be causing it?
Vet put him on Cephalexin and gave us some drops for his skin DMSO/Lidocaine, he has been licking his legs constantly and the doc is trying to eliminate skin infection as a cause before we try behavioral modification. Seems to be working but his breath smells like sour milk from the time we started the medications. Is that what is causing it? Is he ok? Which one is causing it?
I just noticed the DMSO/Lidocaine has dextrose in it could that be it?-
ANSWER:
I would asked the vet if the dog could be getting a upset gastro problems
-
-
QUESTION:
How do people get sour milk breath?
No, I don’t want it for myself. I just wonder what causes that on someone, and what can I offer them to eat that will take it away so I don’t vomit when they breathe on me. Thanks!-
ANSWER:
it comes from the stomach a build up of acid there is nothing you can eat to stop it you have to brush more and rinse often and gum helps stomach acid ok later
-