Does anosmia affect taste?

The tongue detects basic tastes such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savoury. Smell adds much of the detail that people describe as flavour, travelling from the mouth to the smell receptors during eating. When smell is absent, food may seem bland even if the tongue still detects basic tastes. A blocked nose from a common cold or allergic rhinitis can reduce smell temporarily, while chronic sinusitis, COVID-19 or Long COVID may also be considered.

Notice whether congestion, infection, medicine use or head injury preceded the change, and record whether taste and smell alter together. Take care with smoke, gas and spoiled food because smell may no longer warn you. Use saline rinses or other treatment only as advised for your cause. Arrange an assessment if the loss is unexplained, persistent, one-sided or affecting eating, safety or daily life.

Seek urgent help after a head injury if loss of smell comes with severe headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, weakness or clear fluid from the nose. Get prompt medical advice for sudden smell loss with significant breathing difficulty, facial pain and swelling, or neurological symptoms. Otherwise, persistent loss deserves a routine review to examine the nose and discuss likely causes.

Ask whether nasal inflammation, infection, medicines or another condition could explain the change, whether testing is needed and how to protect yourself from household hazards. Discuss safe ways to maintain nutrition if food has become unappealing.