Ageusia

Ageusia is the loss of tongue’s taste functions; the state of inability to detect specific taste like sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness, and umami (the taste of monosodium glutamate).

Ageusia sometimes confused for as anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell.

Other type of loss of taste:

• Hypogeusia – partial loss of taste
• Dysgeusia – distortion or alteration of taste

The tongue can only indicate texture and differentiate between sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami most of what is perceived as the sense of taste is actually derived from smell.

Causes

• Tobacco abuse
• Otologic surgery
• Drug side effects
• Anxiety Disorder
• Tissue damage to the tongue nerves
• Vitamin deficiency (Vit. B3 and Zinc)
• Neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis

Symptoms

• Poor appetite
• Metallic taste
• Tongue with a white-greasy coating

Treatment

Kava-Kava:
In tea form, drink at least 2 times a day

Cassia:
Mix 24 grams of the pulp with a 250 ml hot milk and used as a mouthwash

Prevention

Avoid smoking if you are a smoker
Always practice proper oral hygiene
Lower dosage of medication
Surgery to remove nasal polyps