Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Taste changes can happen due to illness and cancer treatment. Sometimes familiar and previously well-liked foods may taste differently, unpleasant, metallic or bland. However, this is usually temporary and symptoms are likely to improve after treatment is completed.
Causes can include:
- Radiotherapy to the head and neck area.
- Some chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments.
- Other medications such as pain medication or antibiotics.
- Lack of saliva or dry mouth. Speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about suitable mouthcare products, such as mouth washes, gels or toothpastes to help with this.
- Bacterial infection or oral thrush. This needs to be treated as soon as possible. Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice white patches in your mouth.
- Other causes may include surgery to the mouth, throat and nose, mouth sores, nausea and vomiting and dehydration.
Taste changes can make it difficult for some people to eat well and maintain their weight. However, it is important to continue eating and drinking as well as you can.
The following tips might help to make your food more enjoyable. Please note that if you have a sore mouth, this advice is not appropriate, as adding extra flavouring may irritate your mouth. If your mouth is sore, ask your doctor or nurse for advice regarding an appropriate mouthwash or medication.
General Tips
- Choose foods that you like the taste and smell of and avoid those that you don’t enjoy. You can re-try any ‘problem’ foods after a few weeks as your taste may have returned to normal.
- Vary the texture of foods, change between smooth and crunchy textures.
- Experiment with new, different flavours.
- Some people go off tea/coffee. Try peppermint or fruit teas, hot chocolates and fruits squashes instead.
- Some people find cold foods more palatable than hot foods.
- Try to drink plenty of fluids and keep your mouth and tongue moist.
- Keep your mouth clean and fresh with regular mouth care. Brush your teeth regularly and use a soft toothbrush to clean your tongue, if necessary.
Food is tasteless
- Try adding strong herbs and spices or sauces like soy, Worchester, barbeque sauce or mustard.
- Flavour meats or vegetarian dishes with herbs and spices to add flavour.
- Use vegetables with strong flavours such as onions, celery, leeks or tomatoes.
- Try adding strong flavoured cheeses, curry sauces, sweet and sour or chilli sauce.
- Sharp tasting foods such as lemons, oranges and grapefruit and drinks, such as bitter lemon, may help stimulate your taste buds, increase the flow of saliva and get rid of any unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Food is too sweet
- Add spices to puddings and breakfast items, such as nutmeg to milk, puddings or porridge, cinnamon to stewed fruit and ginger to melon.
- Sieve, blend or liquidise fruits and mix with custard, yoghurt or cream to make a fruit fool.
- Excessive sweetness can be reduced by diluting drinks with tonic or soda water.
- Try cooking with lemon juice, herbs or mint. Adding salt or vinegar may also help.
- Have more savoury foods such as cheese, crackers and nuts.
Food is too salty
- Have more sweet foods, such as fruit, ice cream and milkshakes.
Food tastes metallic
- Cook in non-metallic pans if you can.
- Avoid foods and drinks which contain artificial sweeteners.
- Try using plastic cutlery or have more finger foods.
- If meat tastes bitter or metallic try other sources of protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, beans and pulses.
- Pickles and chutneys may improve cold meats. Or try dishes with sauces, such as sweet & sour, gravy, curry, condensed soups or packet mixes.
- Try hard boiled sweets such as lemon drops, mints or chewing gum to help with a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth.
Overleaf are some suggestions of flavour combinations which may help to increase the taste of food.
NB. If you have a sore mouth it may be best to avoid those items in bold type
| Beef | Add Horseradish, tomato, beer, mustard, ginger, black pepper, bay leaf, Worcester sauce, garlic, chilli |
| Chicken | Add natural or Greek yoghurt, garlic, orange/lemon juice, pesto, black bean sauce, thyme, tarragon, coconut, paprika, dill, ginger, parsley, oregano, Cajun spice, curry paste, cranberry, tarragon, tartar sauce, lime |
| Fish | Add black pepper, lemon juice, parsley, dill, coriander, paprika, almonds, coconut |
| Pork | Add cider, ginger, garlic, rosemary, apple, sage, thyme, pineapple, soya sauce, mustard |
| Lamb | Add mint, rosemary, basil, redcurrant, apricot, fennel, onion, garlic, soya sauce |
| Cheese | Add onion, pickle, piccalilli, chutney |
| Potato | Add mint, parsley, onion, strong cheese, black pepper, dill, garlic, chives |
| Rice | Add turmeric, onion, pesto, stock, saffron, caraway seeds, bay leaves, garlic |
| Green vegetables | Add mint, parsley, black pepper, lemon, gravy |
| Carrots | Add parsley, orange, coriander, tarragon, cloves, caraway seeds, black pepper |
| Tomato | Add basil, oregano, marjoram, onion, black pepper, garlic |
| Pasta | Add pesto and other stir through sauces, garlic, basil, black pepper, tomato, strong cheeses, stock cubes |
| Noodles | Add soya sauce, stock cubes, stir in sauces |
| Salads | Dill, oregano, basil, black pepper, yoghurt, lemon juice, chives, olives, dressings, blue cheese |
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
HH/003
Approval date:
1 November 2025
Review date:
1 November 2028
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.