What is Gustatory Dysfunction ?

The Disturbance in taste.

Why does it happen ?

Most of the dentists these days refer the disturbance of taste to a disorder in the oral cavity, however in many cases the cause maybe other than that.

1. With age the taste function decreases slightly affecting a specific quality of taste, with that the olfactory function, which enhances our sensation to different flavors decreases greatly.

2. Systemic diseases (E.g. upper respiratory  infections, neuropathies and viral infections)

3. Oral disorders including tumors, intraoral infections, carious teeth, periodontitis and gingivitis.

4. Some drugs( drugs that cause olfactory dysfunction)

5. Trauma to the 7th (facial), 9th (glossopharyngeal), or 10th (vagus) cranial nerve.

6. Trauma in the area of the face and oral cavity.

What are the signs and symptoms and how to diagnose it?

1. The patients main complain is the decrease in taste sensation (hypogeusia), or the presence of a bad taste in the mouth (dysgeusia). In very rare case does a patient come with a complete loss of taste sensation (ageusia).

2. A complete history is taken from the patient, the type of food the patient eats and his ability to taste different flavors (salty, sweet, sour,..) should be included in that history.

3. Full examination of the oral cavity is done. This will conclude whether the gustatory dysfunction is due to a disorder in the oral cavity or not. A bad taste that can be rinsed away with water is probably due to an oral disorder.

4. Systemic causes for the gustatory dysfunction are now investigated. From the history obtained previously the dentist should know if the patient had a recent traumatic injury or any systemic infection ( respiratory infection).

5. Refer the patient to a neurologist If the injury of the 7th,9th and 10th cranial nerve by trauma or tumor is suspected.

How do we treat a case like this ?

Depending on the diagnosis and cause of the gustatory dysfunction the treatment will be planned.

1. Keeping a good oral hygiene
2. Having regular check ups at the dentists clinic
3. Treating  any systemic diseases
4. Stopping any drugs suspected to cause the dysfunction
5. Referring the patient to a neurologist in cases of suspected cranial tumors or trauma
6. If the patient suffers from persistent idiopathic gustatory dysfunction, counseling and behavior therapy maybe required to help the patient adapt to the dysfunction.