How long does a taste change last?

Duration depends on the cause. Taste changes after a viral infection often improve over weeks, while chronic causes may take longer. Discuss duration and expectations with your clinician.

Can COVID-19 cause taste changes?

Yes. Upper respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can alter taste and smell. Recovery timelines vary between individuals.

Which specialist should I see first?

Start with your primary care or family physician. They can assess the problem and refer to ENT, dentistry, neurology, endocrinology or other specialties as needed.

Are tests available for taste change?

Clinicians may use smell and taste tests, blood work or imaging when indicated. The need for testing is determined after history and physical examination.

Taste change

A change in taste perception (terms include parageusia, hypogeusia or ageusia) can alter eating and drinking experiences. Below are common causes, how the issue is generally assessed, and which specialists may be involved. This information is intended to guide decisions about seeking evaluation, not as personalized medical advice.

Common causes

Taste changes have many possible causes. Frequent contributors are recent upper respiratory infections (including some viral causes), nasal congestion or sinus disease, dental or oral infections and poor oral health, dry mouth, certain medications, tobacco use, and aging. Less commonly, nerve injury, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and systemic or neurological conditions can affect taste.

How evaluation usually proceeds

Initial evaluation is often done by a primary care or family physician who takes a medical history and performs a focused exam. Depending on findings, referral may be made to ENT (ear, nose and throat) for nasal or sinus causes, to a dentist for oral problems, to neurology for suspected nerve or central causes, or to endocrinology for metabolic or hormonal contributors. Tests that may be considered include oral and nasal examination, smell/taste testing, basic blood tests, and imaging when indicated — the exact workup is individualized by the clinician.

Practical steps and self-care

Good oral hygiene, regular dental checkups, and staying well hydrated can help. Reducing or stopping tobacco use may improve taste over time. Review current medications with your clinician if a drug side effect is suspected — any change to medications should be done only in consultation with a prescriber. Nutritional review can be useful if deficiency is suspected.

When to seek urgent care

A change in taste alone is usually not an emergency. Seek urgent medical attention if taste change is accompanied by sudden severe difficulty breathing, swallowing problems, facial or body numbness, sudden slurred speech, fainting, or other sudden neurological symptoms. In such cases, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services.

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