how to get back your taste buds and appetite

The most common medications that affect your sense of taste are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, which are used to treat high blood pressure.

Some medications may change your taste buds and alter your perception of taste. Some of the potential causes of nerve damage that can impact your sense of taste include: Nerve damage anywhere along this pathway, whether from injury or illness, can contribute to a change in your taste buds. Nerves found along the pathway from the mouth to the brain are responsible for taste bud function and the perception of flavor. Deficiencies in the following nutrients may lead to a loss of taste: Malnutrition can cause a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the taste buds to function properly. Ultimately, any medical condition that affects the brain, nose, or mouth can also result in a change to your taste buds. In addition, some non-nervous system disorders, such as cancer, can alter taste perception – especially during treatment.

Nervous system disorders that affect the nerves of the mouth or brain, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Alzheimer’s disease, may cause a change in the perception of taste. These symptoms can reduce your sense of smell, which in turn can impact your perception of taste.Īlthough it may seem as if your taste buds have stopped working when you’re sick with a cold or the flu, the truth is that your sense of taste isn’t nearly as good without your sense of smell.

Upper respiratory infections, whether viral or bacterial, can cause symptoms like nasal congestion and a runny nose. Your perception of flavor, especially via your taste buds, can be impaired by a variety of factors, from infections to medications, and more. These taste cells work in conjunction with chemical and physical senses to produce what we know as “flavor.”Ĭhanges in our taste buds can greatly affect the way we perceive flavor. When our taste buds encounter food and other substances, the taste cells inside send messages to the brain that help us make sense of what we are tasting. Our taste buds are responsible for helping us enjoy the many flavors the world has to offer.

How to get back your taste buds and appetite