# Tastes like aluminum ....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 13, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094 "2002-03-13T18:39:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094/1 "2002-03-13T18:39:16Z")

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For about a week (on & off) I’ve experienced a metallic taste in my mouth.

It’s most prominent after eating/drinking/brushing my teeth. Food still tastes ok. It seems like it’s coming from my front teeth, which have no fillings.

I’m not on any medications & am not sure what might have changed diet-wise. I tried searching WebMd & the like - didn’t find anything that seemed to fit.

Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094/2 "2002-03-13T18:53:56Z")

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Any chance of bleeding gums or dry sinuses that may be post-nasal dripping blood into your mouth?

Blood does have that metallic sort of taste.

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**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094/3 "2002-03-13T19:05:47Z")

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any long-trem use of tylenol-type stuff?

that can thin blood to the point of internal bleeding - if what you are tasting IS blood, you just MAY want to see an internist - blood should not be able to get THAT directly to your olfactory/taste sensors,

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**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094/4 "2002-03-13T21:01:52Z")

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Thanks for the suggestions so far.

No - no blood - I’d see that, wouldn’t I? It tastes different from blood, too.

Occasional use (1x/week or less) of Tylenol PM or ibuprofen. Is that considered long-term?

Chocolate seems to make it worse ☹ - maybe it’s something in my saliva?

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**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastes-like-aluminum/98094/5 "2002-03-13T21:25:44Z")

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no, you would not see blood in the scenario I was thinking - cappilaries (sp) are porous - if the blood is thin enough, enough could permeate to trigger the sensory nerves.

your describe dosage does not SEEM excessive.

Chocolate? Yeesshh…

SOMETHING is in your blood that is tripping your taste and/or olfactory nerves - probably.

Drugs work by entering the blood - thus drugs would be my first area of interest.

If you can’t isolate a definate cause, get some blood work done - it may be nothing - or not.

low salt level can be an indicator of some nasty cancers - find out what is going on.

Medical advise from message boards is NOT a substitute for real treatment.