Many types of taste disorders are curable. For those that are not, counseling is available to help people adjust to their problem.
Diagnosis by an otolaryngologist is important to identify and treat the underlying cause of your disorder. If a certain medication is the cause, stopping or changing your medicine may help eliminate the problem. (Do not stop taking your medications unless directed by your doctor, however.) Some people, notably those with respiratory infections or allergies, regain their sense of taste when these conditions are resolved. Often, the correction of a general medical problem also can correct the loss of taste. Occasionally, a person may recover his or her sense of taste spontaneously. Proper oral hygiene is important to regaining and maintaining a well-functioning sense of taste.
If you lose some or all of your sense of taste, there are things you can do to make your food taste better:
• Prepare foods with a variety of colors and textures.
• Use aromatic herbs and hot spices to add more flavor; however, avoid adding more sugar or salt to foods.
• If your diet permits, add small amounts of cheese, bacon bits, butter, olive oil, or toasted nuts on vegetables.
• Avoid combination dishes, such as casseroles, that can hide individual flavors and dilute taste.
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