--- title: "Loss of taste: When to See a GP | HealthAnswers" description: "Loss of taste is often really a loss of smell from a cold or COVID-19 — other causes include medicines and thrush. Know what helps and when to see a GP." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/loss-of-taste/ robots: noindex --- # Loss of taste: When to See a GP | HealthAnswers Symptoms Loss of taste is often really a loss of smell from a cold or COVID-19 — other causes include medicines and thrush. Know what helps and when to see a GP. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026 ## Quick answer What could loss of taste mean? Loss of taste is often actually a loss of smell, because much of flavour comes from the nose. Colds, COVID-19, medicines, oral thrush and ageing can all change taste. See a GP if taste changes persist, you have mouth problems, or you are losing weight without trying. ## Who is this page for? This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Loss of taste, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally. ## Who should skip this page? Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland. On this page 4 sections ## Common causes of loss of taste - Much of what we call "taste" is actually smell — blocked nose dulls flavour. - Viral infections, including colds and COVID-19, commonly alter taste and smell. - Medicines such as metformin and some antibiotics can cause a metallic taste. - Oral thrush can change taste and needs antifungal treatment. - Persistent taste loss with weight loss or mouth ulcers needs GP assessment. ## Understanding taste changes Flavour is a mix of true taste from the tongue and smell from the nose. When your nose is blocked, or smell nerves are affected after a virus, food can seem bland even though your taste buds still work. Conditions in the mouth — thrush, dryness, ulcers — can also distort taste. ## Common causes Frequent causes include: - Colds, sinusitis and COVID-19 — congestion or post-viral smell/taste change - Medicines — including metformin and some antibiotics (metallic taste) - Oral thrush — sore mouth with white patches - Dry mouth — less saliva means weaker taste - Ageing — gradual reduction in taste bud numbers - Chemotherapy or radiotherapy — can alter taste for a time - Smoking — dulls taste and smell Rarely, neurological conditions or head injury affect taste pathways. ## What you can do Keep your mouth clean and stay hydrated. If you use a steroid inhaler, rinse your mouth after each dose to reduce thrush risk. Season food with herbs, spices, citrus or textures you still enjoy — avoid relying only on extra salt or sugar. If smell is reduced, check food use-by dates rather than relying on odour, and make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work at home. Treat obvious causes: a pharmacist can advise on cold symptoms; a GP can treat thrush or review medicines. ## When to see a GP Book a GP appointment if taste changes last more than a few weeks, keep you from eating enough, or come with weight loss, swallowing difficulty, persistent mouth ulcers, or a one-sided nasal blockage with bleeding. Your GP may examine your mouth and nose, review medicines, and arrange blood tests or an ENT referral if needed. ## ! When to get medical help for loss of taste See a GP if your sense of taste has not improved after a few weeks, if food becomes hard to enjoy and you are losing weight, or if you have mouth ulcers, white patches, or pain. Call **111** if you need urgent advice and are unsure what to do. Call **999** if sudden taste or smell loss comes with stroke symptoms such as face droop, arm weakness or speech difficulty. ## Common questions about loss of taste What is the difference between loss of taste and loss of smell? True taste from the tongue covers sweet, salt, sour, bitter and umami. Most of flavour — for example coffee versus chocolate — comes from smell. Congestion or viral damage to smell often feels like "losing taste" even when the tongue still works. Can medicines cause a metallic taste? Yes. Metformin, some antibiotics, and other medicines can cause a metallic or bitter taste. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice — ask a GP or pharmacist about alternatives if the taste is hard to tolerate. How do I know if oral thrush is affecting my taste? Oral thrush can cause a sore mouth, creamy white patches that may wipe off leaving redness, and altered taste. It is treated with antifungal medicine from a GP or dentist. Denture wearers and people using steroid inhalers are more prone to it. Will my taste come back after COVID-19 or a cold? For most people, taste and smell improve over weeks to months as the infection settles. Smell training can help some people after viral smell loss. See a GP if there is no improvement after a few weeks, or sooner if you are worried. When should a change in taste be investigated? Seek assessment for persistent taste change, especially with unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, a lasting mouth ulcer, or a lump. These are uncommon causes but should not be ignored. ## Sources - [NHS — Metallic taste](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/metallic-taste/) - [NHS — Lost or changed sense of smell](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/lost-or-changed-sense-smell/) - [NHS — Oral thrush](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/oral-thrush-mouth-thrush/)