Taste changes can have a variety of causes. The vast majority are not diet related, but instead are caused by disease, conditions or medications. Taste changes are often common side effects of medications. If your father was recently started on a new medication or combination of medications, then this could possibly be the cause. If not, he may have an underlying condition causing it. Either way, it’s best to let the doctors at the hospital know that he is having taste changes so they can determine the cause and correct it.

Diseases and conditions that can cause taste changes include:

• Acid reflux
• Salivary gland infection
• Sinusitis
• Bell’s Palsy
• Bronchiectasis – lung disease where bronchial tube are blocked with thick mucus
• Cancer
• Migraine Headaches
• Chronic Gastritis – irritation of the lining of the stomach
• Gum inflammation
• Respiratory infections/Flu
• Sjogren’s syndrome – autoimmune disease that causes destruction of salivary glands and tear glands
• Tongue sores or glossitis
• Toothaches or Abscesses