Bad taste, especially when turning my head??

[MandySlade]

So for a few months now on and off I've noticed this really funky taste in my mouth. It's not a metallic or tinny taste like some of you describe with anxiety. It's a bad breath kinda taste, like sulfuric almost. My teeth were cleaned a few months ago, and are cleaned regularly now, and I brush twice a day and floss once a day. Once really freaking me out is that now I've noticed that it happens specifically if I turn my head to the left. I first noticed this about a week ago. If I turn my head to the left and breathe out through my nose slowly I can taste the nasty taste in my mouth. It doesn't happen when I turn my head to the right. It is -really- working me into a panic. I'm scared I have some kind of tumor somewhere causing it, or a brain injury. Or maybe it's because of bad kidney/liver function and is coming from inside of me. But then why is it only when I turn my head one way. Or.. maybe I'm just completely crazy, which also scares me. :( Anyone else dealt with anything similar? I also notice that the deeper the twist the more taste I tend to get. I'm so scared. :( But I'm also afraid to go to more doctors and get more tests I don't need when I have no insurance and am trying to save for my wedding in October. I told my fiance about the taste and he was pretty much like "do you even hear yourself?" ... because he's fairly over my hypochondria and is used to hearing things like this. We've been together 8 years. I always worry that this time it's something serious and no one will believe me because I've cried wolf too much. :(

[MandySlade]

and I just found this thread on dental fear central with someone else having the exact same symptoms.. but there's only one response and no follow up. :(

http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum/showthread.php?9584-Bad-taste-in-mouth

[kibbutz83]

Hiya, do you think you may be over-cleaning your teeth? I read somewhere that you shouldn't use mouthwash excessively as it can cause all kinds of problems :( It does sound like an anxiety/hypochondria thing though ( this coming from an over-anxious hypochondriac): It takes one to know one... my boyfriend switches off now when I'm I go off on one... I would think it's pretty boring and frustrating for our partners having to hear the same old stories from us :( Doesn't stop me feeling bloody frustrated with him though!! Take care :)

[MandySlade]

I don't think it's over cleaning, since I don't believe over cleaning could cause a bad taste. Also, the taste seems to maybe be coming from my insides or throat instead? I can't really tell. The head turning part is what scares me the most.. I keep thinking about what kind of problem could there be that is only triggered by that, and I come up with horrible scenerios. I only brush twice a day and I make sure not to do it too hard and I brush for 2 minutes each time. I use mouth wash about twice a day and I floss at night. As far as I know I do everything to a "T" without going over board. A year or so ago my dentist told me I had some root exposure due to brushing to hard (which is really common) so since then I've used a soft bristle brush and I've made sure to brush slightly longer instead of harder (which is what's recommended).

[nomorepanic]

It could be a sinus related problem maybe but so hard to diagnose as I am not a doctor of course

[Mirabelle]

I had similar symptoms and it was a sinus infection. Talk to your GP
X

[MandySlade]

I have no congestion or pain though... : /

[nomorepanic]

You may not do. It could be a post nasal drip

[MandySlade]

I thought about that, but then why only when I turn to one side?? Also, I don't notice any nasal drainage either. Uhg.. I just spent an hour crying out of frustration with the panic.

[nomorepanic]

I really don't know cos I am not a doctor and this isn't a medical site so sorry I can't help more.

[MandySlade]

I understand. I would see my GP if it didn't cost me 80 dollars just to walk in the door.

[nomorepanic]

Yeah I know you have it bad over there having to pay for everything when we sort of get it free (I know we pay towards it but at least we don't pay every time we go).

[MandySlade]

I'm pretty sure it makes some of us hypochondriacs over here worse. We have to pick and choose what we actually go in for. I have to consider my fiance and how it isnt fair to blow all of our savings going to doctors for every little thing. :/

[MandySlade]

I've been turning my head to smell/taste it so much now that my neck is getting sore. The panic from this specific worry has started to make me depressed. I woke up this morning and didn't even want to get out of bed because I know all day is going to be me obsessing about this possibly being something life threatening. I wish I could stop.. or I wish I could find anyone with a similar symptom. :/

[kt79]

Could it be your tonsil? I would just go to your doctor and they can check you out. :)

[MandySlade]

I have no tonsils. I can not afford to go to the doctor ATM.

[MandySlade]

The taste got way worse last night and I had some bleeding from a tooth, though I can't tell if it was from over brushing. Took the day off of work (which will cost me money) and went to the DR (which also cost me money) only to have him be completely baffled. He said it didn't seem like post nasal drip or acid reflux and that he didnt see anything wrong with my mouth or teeth or ears. He said maybe it's a salivary gland issue and gave me antibiotics. It is kind of bugging me that he never checked the glands in my neck, but I know I should just trust him. *sigh*. This is the worst HA episode I've had in years. :(

[MandySlade]

Adding also, I feel like I should have pain or swelling if it were salivary.... and I'm scared of antibiotics. I've been on them way too much in the last year. Uhg.

[MandySlade]

Obsessing and googling nearly all my waking hours now. Completely overhwelmed and feeling helpless. I keep thinking that the doctor saw nothing because it's far more complex and serious, like a tumor he couldn't see or a massive tooth infection.

but then I try to tell myself if I had a serious infection anywhere, especially my teeth, enough to cause a constant bad taste, I would probably have a fever or at least some pain.

The one-sidedness of it still freaks me out to no end. I keep thinking it's got to be a growth somewhere.. or that I'm finally "insane". Uhg. A million sad faces. :( I hate when I can't pull myself out. And now I don't know what to do, since I was hoping the DR would have a clue. I simply can't afford to start going to specialists.

[looking4answers]

!ts a sinus infection,or a bad tooth,or decaying gums,or could be a filling that is leaching into your mouth but what its not....a tumor..or something sinister and im not even a doctor:) I get this pretty regular but I think mine is from a bridge in my mouth. I have had a metal taste iff and on for 30 or more years...Im still here,so its a good chance you will be too. take care

[MandySlade]

I've had all my metal fillings removes and replaced with composites..
The doctor saw no signs, nor do I have enough symptoms for sinus infection
My gums were deep cleaned 3 months ago and I brush twice and floss once daily.

This is part of why I'm so baffled.

Also, as i mentioned, this is not a metallic taste like people describe with anxiety or acid
reflux.. this is a foul taste.

[PanchoGoz]

You need to get out of this cycle.
Firstly, you are not in any pain, and if there was anything really wrong you would be in lots of pain. Secondly, you will notice that if you didn't keep "testing" by turning your head to funny angles to experience it, you wouldn't have a problem. If you were to treat your neck normally it might go. You must see this as a funny little occurance that ha crept in to yor life and is not causing you any trouble. I know I get loads of wierd tastes and sensations as my sidom teeth are growing through, but lots of other unexplainable sensations that have no explanation. You must accept its there and leave it at that. If anytthing were wrong, your body would let you know with more alarming signals. Until then, you are fit and healthy.

[lleksam]

I dunno...

I can tell you something. I had the exact same thing, I kept getting this strange taste in my mouth from time to time and only when leaning my head to the right.

It didn't worry me and I finally found out it was Tonsillolith... These things are not harmful at all and I actually just coughed it up.

[MandySlade]

Thank you PanchoGoz, that is what I'm trying to so, it's just so hard sometimes.

and lleksam, the symptoms I'm describing do fit tonsilloliths, which is what myself and the doctor both said... but I do not have tonsils. So, he said it's impossible for me to have tonsil stones.

[lleksam]

Okey,

PanchoGoz is right. :)

[MandySlade]

Been on antibiotics for 5 days now with no improvement. Then, the last 2 mornings, I woke up with an ammonia/urine type smell in my nose. These two factors combined have me pretty convinced I have a brain tumor or something equally serious. I keep thinking "if antibiotics arent fixing it... it's not an infection... so it must be __insert terrible thing___" ....... it's been weeks now with this being the only thing on my mind. I can't enjoy anything normally because the thought is always lingering. :(

and my fiance is completely "done" with me right now. I've been driving him crazy. He is convinced that it's all in my head and that I've probably just "suddenly realized what my own normal breath/taste is like". I say to him "then why would it only be on one side"?? He takes the antibiotics not changing it as proof "nothing is wrong".... I take it as proof it's something worse.

sigh

[MandySlade]

This wound up randomly vanishing one day about 3 weeks ago, making me the happiest person alive. Then.... yesterday.... it came back. :( I've been to the dentist... they didn't find anything specifically wrong. Regular DR has no clue. Says it can't be a tonsil stone without tonsils. I'm so very over it... and scared. :( It's making me crazy. I thought it was gone for good. So weird because it was constant every day for like 6 weeks... and then BAM ..woke up and it was gone. Stayed gone 3 weeks and then... BAM back again. What the hell? It makes me feel crazy because no one has a clue what's going on.

[MandySlade]

>>>___<<< worse today. I wish anyone had a similar experience. :(

[Anxious_gal]

I'm sorry you have this :( must be driving you crazy and I do belive you.
When you get the bad taste have you asked anyone to smell your breath?
Have you had a swab of your mouth taken to test for bacteria?
Have you tried all kinds of mouthwashes? I hear aloeverra is good.

Maybe try post on health boards . com , they have all sorts of odd health problems over there.

[MandySlade]

Yeah, I've been on a lot of boards, no one knows. The only thing I keep telling myself is if it went away for 3 weeks... it couldn't be cancer or anything serious.

right?

I have extremely good oral hygiene. I use colgate total and listerine twice a day and I floss every night. My fiance says I don't have bad breath. I've asked him -repeatedly-.

[RLR]

Okay, this is a common complaint and the most typically underlying cause is tonsil stones lodged in the crevices of the palatine tonsil tissue. When turning the head, compression of the tissues causes an expression of the sulfurous by-product caused by bacteria and can be activated on the taste buds or by virtue of the fact that it produces odor. Realize that the ability to taste requires the olfactory sense to be intact, or in other words you can taste the sulfur because it produces an odor.

A visit to your local dentist or doctor can palpate the affected tonsil region to discover and dislodge the stones.

Best regards,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

[MandySlade]

Okay, this is a common complaint and the most typically underlying cause is tonsil stones lodged in the crevices of the palatine tonsil tissue. When turning the head, compression of the tissues causes an expression of the sulfurous by-product caused by bacteria and can be activated on the taste buds or by virtue of the fact that it produces odor. Realize that the ability to taste requires the olfactory sense to be intact, or in other words you can taste the sulfur because it produces an odor.

A visit to your local dentist or doctor can palpate the affected tonsil region to discover and dislodge the stones.

Best regards,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

Thank you, but I wish you had read the thread.

I have no tonsils. My doctor told me tonsil stones were impossible without tonsils. I saw both my regular doctor and the dentist through the course of this thread.

[M155anthr0p3]

Mandy you don't think it's wisdom tooth related do you?
I get a weird taste in my mouth when mine are pushing through.

[MandySlade]

^I only have 1 left fully impacted on the bottom, the dentist said she can't see that it's trying to come through at all. So... I don't know.

[RLR]

Okay, well enough. Unfortunately, my schedule only permits me time to read the original complaint and not the entirety of the exchange throughout its course. Unless you've already done so, I'd suggest a referral from your doctor to an ENT for a more in-depth evaluation of the condition. I am somewhat suspicious of the timing of your treatment with antibiotics at some point and a period of remittance at some point soon afterward, if indeed I read that correctly.

I'll leave the thread at this point and wish you the best in ultimately determining the cause.

Best regards,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

[MandySlade]

I can't afford to see an ENT atm. That being said, the taste vanished again yesterday and today. I'm completely baffled.

[Nccurtin]

I can't afford to see an ENT atm. That being said, the taste vanished again yesterday and today. I'm completely baffled.

Did you ever figure out what was causing it? I have been having the exact same problem for 2 weeks now.

[Fishmanpa]

Did you ever figure out what was causing it? I have been having the exact same problem for 2 weeks now.

The OP hasn't been on since 2014.

Positive thoughts

[BronwynCole]

Having the exact same problem, wish I could contact the OP. What about you NCcurtin? Any updates?

[ErinKC]

Could be a tonsil stone or just some plaque or gunk caught in your throat/tonsils. I know exactly what you're describing and I've had it most with tonsil stones, but now and then it'll just happen randomly. It's from plaque somewhere in your mouth.