Lately, I’ve noticed that I have a strange taste in my mouth and I have some aching in the jaw on that side, but nothing major. The taste is not metallic. Perhaps the closest taste is when a dentist squirts liquid into your mouth to disinfect it while doing a filling. It is very annoying. What do you think it is? Anon

This could be due to a number of different things, and you really do need to book a checkup with your dentist to identify the reason as soon as you can. The bad taste is undoubtedly due to infection which could be caused by bacteria building up around your teeth and gums. One of the earliest signs of this is gums that bleed or feel tender to the touch and having a persistently unpleasant taste in the mouth. In its early stages gum disease is relatively easy to deal with, but if left to progress into gum disease – periodontitis it can become a serious condition.

As the infection progresses it can cause puss to collect in between your teeth and gums, and this can spread to the bone making it ache. There is also the possibility that gum disease could be affecting the way your teeth meet together, as infection could be pushing the tooth slightly out of its normal position. If your teeth and jaw are infected then you’ll probably notice it is more painful than normal to chew on that side and you may be avoiding doing so without even realizing.

Periodontitis is known as a silent disease, and early signs are easy to miss which is why it is essential to see your dentist regularly. Dental decay can also cause pain, and one of the signs is feeling more pain if you tap the infected tooth. You might also notice the gum appears a little redder than normal, even if the tooth appears to be perfectly healthy to you.

Even if it due to something less serious it is time to book that appointment as it is not normal to have a persistently bad taste in your mouth, and you shouldn’t have to put up with it.

To your health !!!

Dr. Penchas