What causes bitterness in the mouth after eating and how is it treated?

Why does my mouth hurt?

Pain in the mouth can be caused by both local and systemic factors. Painful sensations in the oral cavity usually do not bother you in isolation. As a rule, they are combined with other symptoms characteristic of a certain pathology: hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane, rashes and ulcers in the oral cavity, plaque, unpleasant odor, difficulty chewing and opening the mouth, and salivation. Pain in the mouth, despite its local nature, disrupts general well-being and performance, and prevents normal diction and proper food intake.

Lip pain

Is local or diffuse in nature. It can be caused by traumatic, infectious, chemical, physical factors, or tumor lesions. The pain is usually combined with dry lips, cracks, redness, blistering rashes, ulceration, and dry crusts. Common causes of lip pain:

• Cheilitis.
  It may be a consequence of sensitization (allergic cheilitis), neurogenic causes (exfoliative, macrocheilitis), unfavorable climatic factors (meteorological cheilitis), vitamin deficiency (hypovitaminous cheilitis), infection (glandular cheilitis). Common signs are damage to the red border, accompanied by dryness, painful cracks and ulcers, swelling, burning, itching.
• Labial herpes.
  In the prodromal period, local tingling, tingling, itching in the area of ​​the upper or lower lip is noted. Then a bubble containing liquid appears. After spontaneous or forced opening of the vesicle, an ulcer forms in its place, which dries out and becomes covered with a scab. When the crust cracks, ichor oozes out from under it. Elements of herpes are sharply painful at all stages. It takes 10-12 days from the prodrome to complete epithelialization.
• Lichen planus.
  May affect the red border of the lips, tongue, and oral mucosa. The main elements are papules, which, when fused, form whitish areas of keratinization. Sometimes LLP occurs with the formation of weeping areas, erosions, blisters - in these cases, a burning sensation and severe pain in the mouth are added, making it impossible to eat.
• Trigeminal neuralgia.
  Trigeminal neuralgia is a common cause of facial pain. When the maxillary and mandibular branches of the trigeminal nerve are damaged, sharp, intense shooting pains in the cheek, upper or lower lip, or jaw, reminiscent of electric shocks, may occur.
• Injuries.
  Lip burns can be caused by drinking hot drinks, exposure to harsh chemicals, or exposure to sunlight or open flames. With mild burns, pain, swelling of the lip, and hyperemia appear; in severe cases, blisters, scabs, and tissue necrosis form. Mechanical damage (cuts, biting) to the lips is accompanied by pain and bleeding.
• Lip cancer.
  Externally it may appear as a warty or papillomatous growth or infiltrate. At first, the elements do not cause discomfort, but their ulceration, infection, and decay are accompanied by severe pain in the mouth.

Transient swelling and soreness of the lips are observed after a number of cosmetic procedures and surgical interventions: permanent makeup, piercing, injection of hyaluronic fillers, cheiloplasty.

Mouth pain

Pain in gums

As a rule, it is associated with diseases of the oral cavity or behavioral factors (incorrect selection of a toothbrush, use of toothpicks, smoking). Pathologies that cause pain in the gums:

• Inflammatory processes.
  Painful sensations in the mouth are a pathognomonic sign of inflammatory diseases: gingivitis, stomatitis, periodontitis. With gingivitis, the gums become swollen, painful, and bleeding. Stomatitis can occur with the formation of plaque in the mouth, extremely painful aphthae and ulcers. With periodontitis, pain in the gums is aggravated by bad breath, the formation of periodontal pockets, suppuration, and loosening of teeth.
• Periodontitis.
  In acute periodontitis or exacerbation of a chronic process, painful swelling of the gums occurs in the area of ​​the affected tooth. When the pyogenic flora is activated, a flux is formed, accompanied by throbbing pain. When it is opened, a fistula may form. Severe pain occurs during chewing and speaking.
• Injuries.
  Damage to the gums can occur both from direct mechanical impact and from difficult tooth eruption. In the latter case, pericoronitis develops. Injury to gum tissue and pain are also accompanied by dental procedures: tooth extraction, installation of a dental crown/prosthesis, dental implantation, operations (gingivotomy, gingivoplasty, etc.).
• Allergy.
  May be caused by a reaction to denture materials, medications, or local anesthetics. It occurs in the form of allergic stomatitis, cheilitis, glossitis. Characterized by hyperemia, burning, swelling of the mucous membrane, hypersalivation, pain when eating.

Tongue pain

Pain in the tongue is associated with local infectious-inflammatory, traumatic, allergic, neurogenic, and neoplastic processes. In addition to local factors, pain in the mouth can be provoked by systemic diseases: hypovitaminosis B1, B2, B12, pellagra, iron deficiency anemia, collagenosis, leukemia, etc. Local causes of pain in the tongue:

• Glossitis.
  Pain of varying intensity is observed with desquamative, candidal, herpetic, allergic, traumatic and other glossitis. Swelling, glossodynia, plaque, and changes in taste sensitivity may also occur.
• Xerostomia.
  It is a consequence of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, medication, smoking, Sjogren's disease, diseases of the salivary glands. Dry mouth makes eating, swallowing, and speaking difficult and painful.
• Glossalgia.
  It occurs with attacks of burning pain in the tongue, which are more pronounced in its tip and lateral surfaces. There is hyperemia or pallor of the tongue. Repeated painful attacks change the psychological state of patients - they become irritable, suspicious, and tearful.
• Galvanism.
  Develops as a result of irrational prosthetics. It is characterized by swelling and hyperemia of the tongue, sensations of pain, burning, rawness, and a metallic taste in the mouth.
• Neuropathies.
  Pain in the tongue of neurogenic origin occurs with neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerves. In the first case, the pain is localized in the area of ​​the root of the tongue, in the second - in the back of the tongue. More often it is unilateral in nature, occurs in paroxysms, and is provoked by talking, coughing, and swallowing. It has an intense pulsating, drilling, burning character.
• Tongue cancer.
  Manifests with the appearance of painless or slightly painful formations: growths, ulcers, compactions. In the advanced stage, local or diffuse pain occurs, radiating to the jaw, ear, and temporal region. Salivation increases, foul breath appears, spontaneous bleeding from the tongue, difficulty articulating and swallowing.

Dental diagnostics

It's all about the bile

How does bitterness in the mouth occur after eating? Thanks to the functioning of the liver, fats are broken down into food components that are easily digested. In this case, bile is released into the duct and emulsifies fats into particles. In cases of pathological processes, bile stagnates in the canal and is released into the esophagus. Bile also accumulates in the gallbladder. Due to this, a bitter taste appears in the mouth.

The cause of bile stagnation can be various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including inflammatory and infectious ones. In this case, bile enters the gastrointestinal canal in an amount that is not enough for the complete processing of all food.

Also, in this case, intestinal motility disorders occur, and as a result, stagnation of the digestive process. Undigested food is retained in the intestines, and rotting processes begin - this causes changes in taste sensations and the appearance of a bitter taste. A bitter taste in the mouth after eating food can be a symptom of the following diseases:

• Cholecystitis
• Jaundice
• Pancreatitis
• Colitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Dyskenesia

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. This disease is accompanied by bitterness in the mouth, heartburn, pain in the right side, and dry mouth. During the acute form of the disease, the temperature rises and vomiting, stool disturbances and the formation of a white coating on the tongue are possible.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Bitterness in the mouth after eating as an alarm signal

During this disease, there is an active release of gastric juice into the esophagus, sometimes so intensely that it reaches the esophagus and mouth. Therefore, it is not surprising to feel bitterness after eating. Such emissions usually occur due to overeating, abuse of fatty and fried or spicy foods.

Diagnostics

To determine the etiology and therapeutic tactics for pain in the mouth, a comprehensive dental examination is carried out, and, if necessary, an examination of the ENT organs. A number of specialists are involved in diagnosing the causes of pain in the mouth: dental therapist, periodontist, otolaryngologist, allergist-immunologist, neurologist, oncologist, etc. Taking into account nosology, the list of recommended studies includes:

• X-ray diagnostics (OPTG, CT of the jaws, sialography);
• dental examination (visual and instrumental examination, determination of periodontal index);
• ENT diagnostics (pharyngoscopy);
• sonography (ultrasound of the salivary glands, tongue);
• allergy examination (allergy tests, study of individual allergens);
• laboratory tests (analysis of the biocenosis of the oral cavity using bacterial culture, PCR).

Causes

Bitterness in the mouth after eating is a rather unpleasant symptom.

Depending on the circumstances and with what frequency bitterness in the mouth occurs, the etiology of this symptom can be assumed:

• Every morning you feel bitterness - this is a symptom of liver failure or gallbladder disease.
• After physical activity - liver disease.
• After eating - diseases of the stomach, intestines and gall bladder.
• When eating fatty or fried foods, diseases of the gallbladder, liver and bile ducts occur.
• Constant causeless bitterness is a symptom of cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, endocrine or psychological disorders, as well as cancer of the stomach, esophagus or intestines.
• Rare and quickly passing sensations of bitterness are the consequences of taking medications or stress.

Treatment

Diseases accompanied by pain in the mouth require general and local therapy. In some cases, there is a need for surgical intervention. The following are used in treatment:

• Systemic therapy
  : antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic, antihistamines, NSAIDs, vitamins.
• Local procedures:
  rinsing the mouth with antiseptics, lubricating the mucous membrane with medicinal compounds, medicinal treatment and curettage of periodontal pockets, therapeutic bandages.
• Physiotherapy:
  medicinal electrophoresis, darsonvalization, gum treatment with laser, Vector device.
• Dental treatment:
  complex therapy of stomatitis, periodontitis, treatment of complicated caries, removal of decayed teeth, re-prosthetics of teeth in case of intolerance to orthopedic structures.
• Dental operations:
  releasing incision and periostotomy for periostitis; flap surgery for periodontitis; lip resection, hemiglossectomy and glossectomy for cancer.

What to do?

Bitterness in the mouth after eating can be eliminated in various ways.

So, there are quite a few causes of bitterness in the mouth and it is impossible to determine the exact etiology from just one or a few symptoms. In order to get rid of this unpleasant feeling, you need to undergo a full examination, including:

1. Ultrasound
2. Gastroscopy
3. Colonoscopy
4. Laboratory diagnostics
5. Computed tomography
6. MRI

Choosing the right research and treatment is impossible without consulting a gastroenterologist, therapist, or neurologist.