While a change in taste can be caused by a neurological condition, that is thankfully, a rare occurrence. In fact, a sudden change in taste in your mouth may not be an indicator of anything serious. Most cases are benign, transient conditions that do not require any major workup.
Sometimes a salty taste is an indicator that you’re not getting enough B12 in your diet or that you are currently or chronically dehydrated. People with dry mouth, which can sometimes be caused by medications, will also have a salty taste. Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) can produce this effect as well. And if you have diabetes or other autoimmune diseases, there is a higher chance you’ll get a taste disorder.
In addition, you may experience a salty sensation if you have a post-nasal drip caused by allergies, which are likely to be an environmental factor and not caused by the food you’re consuming. Of course, it is possible an allergy to a specific food is causing the salty taste. In this case, discuss with your physician if getting an allergy test is needed, especially if symptoms arise after you eat. Your doctor will most likely ask you to note what you eat throughout the day to help narrow down potential allergens.
Since there are multiple reasons for one to have this issue, it is advised you have a discussion with your primary care physician on the next steps. They will decide if further workup is necessary and may order certain tests or exams to help discover the cause. Even if the taste comes and goes, you should investigate further with your physician, especially if symptoms persist or are not related to an identifiable cause.
Until you figure out the cause, making a salty taste go away to make your food taste better is not always an easy answer. Unfortunately, there is little one can do to quickly remove the taste. With time, the symptoms will likely resolve on their own. One immediate option is to chew on a mint or some gum to help mask the taste.
