How long does taste loss last?

The timeline depends on the cause. A blocked nose, mouth irritation, medication effect or infection can change how food tastes. Taste may return gradually rather than all at once, and flavours can seem distorted while the sensory system recovers.

What people call taste loss is sometimes reduced smell. Smell contributes strongly to flavour, so congestion or a separate loss of smell can make food seem bland even when the basic tastes on the tongue are still detectable.

Taste loss can occur during or after COVID-19. When changes continue after the initial illness, they may be part of Long COVID, especially if they occur with ongoing fatigue, difficulty concentrating, joint pain or low mood. These symptoms do not identify the cause on their own.

Keep eating and drinking regularly. Choose foods with different textures and temperatures, and use herbs or mild seasonings if they are comfortable for you. Avoid adding large amounts of salt or sugar to compensate for blandness.

Brush your teeth and tongue gently, keep your mouth hydrated, and check food labels and expiry dates because flavour changes can make spoiled food harder to notice. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without discussing a possible side effect with a clinician.

Arrange a medical review if taste loss is severe, does not begin to improve, keeps returning, or started after a new medicine. A clinician can examine your mouth and nose, review medicines and consider whether testing or referral is needed.

Seek urgent help for taste loss with trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, sudden weakness, confusion, or difficulty speaking. Also seek prompt care if you cannot eat or drink enough, or if mouth pain, sores or fever are worsening.

You could ask: Could a medicine, nasal problem or mouth condition be affecting my taste? Is my reduced flavour perception also a loss of smell? What changes should I track, and when should I return if recovery stalls?