When Things Aren't Tasting Right

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. Also, keep your mouth clean by rinsing and brushing, which in turn may improve the taste of foods.

What to Do:

• Try using plastic utensils if you have a metallic taste while eating.
• Season foods with tart flavours such as lime and lemon wedges, lemonade, citrus fruits, vinegar and pickled foods. (If you have a sore mouth or throat, do not use this tip.)
• Chew lemon drops, mints or gum, which can help get rid of unpleasant tastes that linger after eating. (If you have diarrhoea, avoid sugarless candies and gums.)
• Flavour foods with onion, garlic, chili powder, herbs, barbecue sauce, mustard, tomato sauce or mint.
• 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 foods 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, as they may be more appealing than canned or frozen ones.