Very Salty Mouth

[4evertired]

Can somebody tell me why I have a salty taste in my mouth? I started out of the blue, It is really severe,the saliva is thick and salty and it causes me the gag. I was told by my Dr that my sodium blood level was low and a few months ago my potassium level was low, is there a connection? I have spoken to a few drs and they do not have a clue as to the problem, they look at me like I'm nuts. It is so bad that I cannot eat or sleep. I start to gag when I'm asleep because there is so much fluid building up.
Any info would be a big help.

4evertired

[Dr_Brody_DC]

Can somebody tell me why I have a salty taste in my mouth? I started out of the blue, It is really severe,the saliva is thick and salty and it causes me the gag. I was told by my Dr that my sodium blood level was low and a few months ago my potassium level was low, is there a connection? I have spoken to a few drs and they do not have a clue as to the problem, they look at me like I'm nuts. It is so bad that I cannot eat or sleep. I start to gag when I'm asleep because there is so much fluid building up.
Any info would be a big help.

4evertired

Dear 4et,

With low electrolytes, I assume that your doctor tested your kidney and adrenal function and that they are normal. Salty mouth could be due to medications or sometimes, fillings that are in poor repair. The problem might stem from your nose as well. It is a common complaint that often baffles doctors, even to the extent that psychological treatment is suggested!

Because you mention thick/excess saliva as well, two other points deserve attention. Parotid and salivary gland disease should be ruled out. (This could range from blocked ducts to tumors.) The other possibility is cranial nerve disease, which requires the diagnostic services of a neurologist.

Lack of zinc in the diet can dull your sense of taste. Since your tongue is equipped to detect salt, sweet, bitter, and sour, you could make a theoretical argument that all these senses don't fade simultaneously; perhaps all you have left is the ability to taste salt, which now becomes overbearing. Before all the readers out there jump on me for making up my own physiology, all I'm suggesting is to make sure you're getting at least 12 mg. of zinc in your diet daily -- it might help. (Low zinc, copper, and other micronutrients have been reported in the literature as distorting taste.)

This brings to mind one more point, that of possible heavy metal poisoning (mercury is most likely), which can produce excess saliva and a metallic taste in the mouth.

Salty mouth is difficult to pin down, not because no one knows the cause, but because there are so many possibilities! Good luck.

[Mischel.S]

You would not believe me when I say what kind of problems I am experiencing.
I'm 23 year old female and I got this strange problem that is hunting me for over than four months.
I have a salty taste in my mouth that won't go away. Everything i eat taste salty as well.
It doesn't matter how many times I brush my teeth (and tongue) or what I eat or drink, the salty taste won't go away.
I really don’t know what could cause this kind of symptoms.