Salty taste in mouth

Salty taste in mouth can be due to a number of underlying factors or causes. However, it is very common in cases of excessive salt intake, dehydration, salivary gland infection, cold or flu, sinusitis, postnasal drip, excessive intake of alcohol or caffeine, anti-thyroid medications, chemotherapy and allergies. Other causes involve nutritional deficiency especially of vitamin B 12 and zinc.

The list of causes of salty taste in the mouth

1. Dehydration
2. Lack of required water intake
3. Excessive intake of alcohol and caffeine or tea
4. Viral infections – common cold or other types of flu
5. Sinusitis
6. Salivary gland infections
7. Bacterial infections of mouth or gums
8. Postnasal drip
9. Excessive salt intake
10. Chemotherapy
11. Medicines such as griseofulvin, captopril, lithium, procarbazine, penicillamine and rifampin
12. Anti-thyroid medicines
13. Vitamin B12 deficiency
14. Zinc deficiency

Management and treatment

The goal of treatment is to correct the underlying cause of this symptom. Various diseases precipitate the salty taste in the mouth, so detection of the cause is the first step towards the treatment of salty taste.

The most common cause is excessive intake of salt, which need to be reduced and potassium containing food products should be increased in the diet. Potassium containing foods are dried apricots, prunes, raisins, figs, avocados, bananas, kiwi, peaches, nectarines, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potato, kale, Brussels sprouts, zucchini (with skin), green beans, winter squash, white beans, yogurt, broccoli, Halibut, Cantaloupe, Pork tenderloin, Lentils, Pistachios  etc.

The most common cause if dehydration or intake of less water than required. To manage this cause, a person should take at least 1-liter water per 20 kg of his body weight.

How to Get Rid of Salty Taste in Mouth

The following ways and tips can help to get rid of salty taste in the mouth. You should follow all tips for instant results.

1. Reduce alcohol intake. If you can stop taking alcohol, that will be very good to get rid of the salty taste.
2. Manage infections if any under medical supervision.
3. Decrease salt intake and increase water intake.
4. Take a multivitamin supplement for at least three months.
5. Mild zinc deficiency does not cause any symptoms, but severe deficiency of zinc can be detected if you have anorexia, diarrhea, lethargy, hair loss, skin lesions, and loss of appetite, impaired cognitive functions, loss of taste or impaired smell sense. In this condition, take supplementation of zinc.
6. You can consult a doctor if any medicine causes salty taste in your mouth for stopping or finding an alternative to that.
7. Avoid tobacco-based products.
8. Avoid spicy and hot foods.
9. Do gargle with cold water.
10. Avoid salty foods.
11. Change your brush and toothpaste to eliminate causes due to toothpaste.
12. Wash your mouth frequently at least four times a day.

Can increased uric acid cause salty taste in mouth?

Yes, increased level of uric acid can cause a salty taste in your mouth. If you are taking salt, then it may also cause the increase of serum uric acid levels, hair loss and premature whitening of hairs. It also applies to the increased uric acid level that can also become a cause for salty taste in mouth. It is vice versa effect, salt can cause an increase in uric acid levels and elevated levels or uric acid may cause a salty taste in the mouth. Management involves:

• Decrease salt intake
• Treat gout
• Increase pure water intake up to at least 1 liter per 20 kg of your body weight.

Ayurvedic management of salty taste

According to ayurveda, salty taste is due to increase in and aggravation of Kapha Molecules, which may cause two types of taste in the mouth.

1. Sweet Taste
2. Salty Taste

We will discuss here about salty taste. Ayurveda believes that salty taste is caused by kapha and pitta dominant foods especially foods with salty in their intrinsic nature. Therefore, ayurvedic first line of treatment is to decrease intake of salt and salt containing foods. Due to kapha and pitta dosha, treatment principles are:

1. Decrease intake of salt and salt containing foods.
2. Increase digestive fire but with bitter and pungent herbs
3. Liver corrective medicines
4. Pitta and kapha pacifying medication

Herbs for treatment of salty taste of mouth

• Cardamom (Elachi)
• Cinnamon
• Long pepper
• Cold extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi satva)
• Indian gooseberry

Home Remedies for Salty Taste in Mouth

You can use above herbs in preparing various home remedies to get rid of salty taste in mouth. There are following ways to use herbs and spices for the treatment of salty taste naturally.

Cinnamon Tea

1. Take 2 grams of cinnamon powder.
2. Add cinnamon powder in one glass of water.
3. Boil the mixture and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Now strain the liquid and throw away residues.
5. Let it cool down for a few minutes and when it becomes warm, add 1 tsp. of honey.
6. Drink this mixture and get cure from salty taste in the mouth.

You should consume this remedy for at least 10 days to get permanent cure from salty taste.

Cardamom

Chewing cardamom helps to change the taste of mouth. It reduces saltiness in the mouth.

Indian gooseberry or amla

Amla is best home remedy for salty taste in the mouth. You can drink its juice or eat its powder. You should take this remedy twice a day and for 30 days.

Also Read:

• Sour Taste in the Mouth – Causes & Home Remedies
• Metallic Taste in the Mouth – Causes, Prevention & Remedies
• How to Stop Excessive Salivation