How to manage changes in taste and smell

Cancer and its treatments can cause changes in your senses of taste and smell. If you are having this problem, try foods or beverages that are different from ones you usually eat. It is recommended to keep your mouth clean by rinsing and brushing, which in turn may improve the taste of foods.

What to Do:

• Different suggestions will help different people.
• Try using plastic utensils if you have a metallic taste while eating.
• Season foods with sour flavours such as assam, lime, vinegar and pickled foods. (If you have a sore mouth or throat, disregard this tip.)
• Chew lemon drops, mints, or chewing gum, which can help get rid of unpleasant tastes that linger after eating. (If you have diarrhoea, avoid sugarless sweets and chewing gum.)
• Flavour foods with sauces and spices.
• Increase the sugar in foods to increase their pleasant tastes and decrease salty, bitter or acid tastes.
• Rinse your mouth with tea, ginger ale, salted water or water with baking soda before eating to help clear your taste buds.
• Serve food cold or at room temperature. This can decrease the foods' tastes and smells, making them easier to tolerate.
• Freeze and eat fruits such as honeydew, grapes, oranges and watermelon.
• Eat fresh vegetables.