Taste is the biggest blessing for us. Often people lose their taste after illness or other factors like aging, tongue burning, and cancer. Nowadays, there is a possibility because this may be a significant sign of Covid-19.
The most common cause behind the loss of smell and taste is sinus infections. Frequently people ask how to get the taste back after sinus infections or Covid. This is not an irreversible issue most of the time, but it may become permanent in some cases.
How to Get Taste Back After Covid-19?
Most Covid positive people experience loss of taste and smell. This is not completely true, but much evidence supports this statement. With the loss of taste and smell, people also experience fever, cough, and body pain.
If you find anything like this, you must ask for medical help. Sometimes you may not show other symptoms, but the loss of smell and taste is strong evidence for covid.
Often, the sense of taste and smell return as symptoms decline, but it can be permanent for some patients. Proper medication and care may fasten the speed of recovery.
How Do Smell and Taste Work?
When you get a sinus infection which causes a stuffy nose that stops signals to sensory cells, and you can’t smell. Taste and smell are related to each other; therefore, loss of smell also loses your taste. When we eat something, their vapors enter into the nostrils, and through sensory nerves, we get to know the taste by smell.
Loss of contact with these receptors means we can’t taste food properly, and the taste of food feels dull and tastes less. In some cases of long-term infection, it also happens due to swelling of sensory cells, which leads to loss of taste and smell.
Recovery Time
Sense of taste and smell comes back after 12 – 14 days naturally, but you can follow some natural remedies, medical treatments, and changes in your life habits to fasten the recovery speed. In case of no recovery, you must consult a doctor. Recovery timing for every individual varies because of different immunity levels or environmental conditions.
How to Get Your Taste Back
You can follow many ways to get your taste and smell back. This is extremely disturbing for anyone who lost this blessing. You can’t taste your favorite food, and it slowly results in a decline of appetite. The solution can be a home remedy, change in lifestyle, or medical treatment under serious conditions.
Here I am sharing three ways you can choose according to your convenience. Let’s start this list so you can help yourself to get your taste back after a sinus infection.
11 Home Remedies to Regain Sense of Smell and Taste
Following are the home remedies that will help you get back the sense of taste and smell after sinus infection:
1. Castor Oil
This is one of the best natural products to fasten your sinus recovery. Castor oil has ricinoleic acid with anti-inflammatory properties to restore your swell sinus track. You can use it in two ways.
First Method
For the first remedy, take one tablespoon of warm castor oil and add a few drops in each nostril. You can do this twice a day. This is extremely helpful for reducing inflammation.
Second Method
For the second option, you need one tablespoon of castor oil mix with a few drops of any essential oils. Massage your face with this, start from between your eyes and then rub the sides of your nose. This process stimulates blood flow and helps to open the blockage and restore a sense of smell.
2. Ginger
Ginger has warming properties and has a strong smell. Both of its properties make it suitable for the recovery of smell and taste. The warm nature of ginger is best in cold infection, while its strong aroma helps to get your taste back. You can use it in two ways, either direct or in the form of tea.
- You can eat small amounts of ginger at regular intervals.
- You can make tea. For this, add one cup of water and a small piece of ginger to a pan and boil it for 2 – 3 minutes. You can use this twice a day.
This is very helpful to get your taste back and enjoy your tasty food.
3. Lemon
Lemon has antimicrobial properties because of its acidic nature and vitamin C. Acid in lemon helps remove the blockage, and vitamin C boosts your immunity to fight infections efficiently.
You can use this in the form of tea. Add one cup of water and half a teaspoon of tea to a pan and boil for 4-5 minutes. Strain it in a cup and add a few drops of lemon juice. You can use this twice a day, one cup in the morning and one cup in the evening. This helps you get your taste back after a sinus infection.
4. Garlic
Garlic has natural antibiotic properties to fight illness. For this remedy, you need 2-3 chopped cloves of garlic and boil in one cup of water for 2-3 minutes. Strain tea in a cup and enjoy. It helps you by speeding up your recovery. You can use this twice a day for good results.
Precaution
If you are pregnant, don’t use more than one clove of garlic.
5. Steam
This is the best remedy to open your blocked nostrils. For this, you need to boil 2 – 3 cups of water in a large pan. After a boil, close the lid for a few minutes and then get steam by covering your head with a towel and inhaling steam for 15 minutes.
You can add other things to get better results, like a few drops of any essential oil or half cup of vinegar.
6. Peppermint
Peppermint works like magic for taste recovery purposes. It has anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial properties to bring back your taste. It surprisingly recovers your taste and smell.
For this, you need 10 – 15 leaves of peppermint and one cup of water. Boil for a few minutes and strain in a cup. Add honey for better results and taste.
You can use this many times in a day. It helps to restore your receptors and fasten recovery speed.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar or ACV has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which help to fight infection-causing agents. For intake, boil one cup of water and add on a spoon ACV. Add honey according to your taste.
You can use it once a day.
Precaution
Intake of concentrated ACV can be harmful because it raises the level of potassium in the body. This results in erosion of tooth enamel, digestive disorders.
8. Oil Pulling
Rinse your mouth twice a day with any oil like coconut oil, sesame oil, etc. This is very helpful to get your taste back and effective for throat infections. For this, you need to take one spoon of oil and swish in your mouth for 10 minutes, and then brush with a good toothpaste.
You can do this every morning and evening before brushing.
9. Cinnamon
Cinnamon has many other health benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling. It is also helpful in tooth decay and gum diseases.
For use add a few pinches of cinnamon in a hot cup of tea. Add honey for sweetness.
Precautions
Cinnamon intake in large quantities may result in severe health issues. Never use more than 1 – 2 teaspoons in a day. If you have any health issues don’t use it without a doctor’s prescription.
10. Eucalyptus Oil
The anti-inflammatory and mucolytic properties of eucalyptus oil make it best for upper respiratory infections which cause loss of taste and smell.
Add 2 – 3 drops of eucalyptus oil in hot water and inhale the steam for 10 -15 minutes. You can do this twice a day.
Precautions
Excessive vapors may result in stomach pain, nausea, and dizziness.
10. Carom Seeds
Carom seeds have a strong aroma which makes them anti-inflammatory. For its use, you need a muslin cloth and cover carom seeds into it. Inhale the aroma of seeds for few minutes. You can repeat this many time in a day.
This is beneficial for congested nose which is the main reason behind loss of sense of taste and smell.
11. Curry Leaves
Studies prove the anti-inflammatory properties of curry leaves are best for the treatment of cold and other respiratory infections. It brings back your taste and smell so you can enjoy your food.
For use, you need 10 -15 leaves of curry and soak in a glass of water for half an hour. Drink it twice a day.
Helpful Lifestyle Changes You Need
You can adopt a healthy lifestyle by keeping in view the following points:
Zinc
Zinc is an essential element for daily diet. Zinc helps your body for proper functioning. The most significant problem is that the body can’t store it for a long time; therefore, daily zinc intake is compulsory. So you can intake zinc in two ways.
- By adding natural products to your daily diet like oysters, beef, beans, etc.
- By zinc supplements, but don’t use any supplement without a doctor’s prescription.
Precaution
Excess intake of zinc daily may result in a decrease of iron and copper in your body.
Stay Hydrated
You can lose your sense of taste and smell because of dehydration. If you want to get this back, intake of water is the best option. Add this to your daily habits.
The required daily water intake for a woman is 2.7 ltr and for a man is 3.7.
Your water level is perfect if you are less thirsty or your urine is pale yellow.
Brush Your Teeth
Unhygienic mouth habits lead to bad taste or loss of flavor. So, it is important to maintain your oral health. The best way to keep it in good condition is regular brushing twice a day. It saves you from gums and teeth issues by avoiding the deposit of plaque and tartar on your teeth.
Medical Treatments
Here are some medical treatments to help you get your taste back:
Decongestants
If you have lost your taste because of any sinus infection, this is the best way to unblock your nasal cavity. It comes in many forms like pills, nasal spray, or a liquid. For this, you don’t need any medical prescription.
Antibiotics
You can use antibiotics for quick recovery. Visit a doctor so he can diagnose your problem and prescribe suitable antibiotics. Must ask for a time limit you need to continue medication. There is debate about the course of antibiotics whether it is essential to complete the course or stop taking it immediately after recovery.
Change Medicine
Sometimes you take medicine for other problems, and this results in loss of taste. So you need to consult a doctor to change it according to the situation. This is the best way to avoid more damage to your sense of smell and taste.
Conclusion
Loss of taste and smell after a sinus infection is not a big deal. This might be annoying, but you do not need to worry. You can recover your taste and smell by using the techniques we mentioned above. If this is because of age and other diseases, these methods may not work for you. So it would help if you visited a doctor to find out the real issue behind this.
Emily Smith is a talented content writer, wielding words to create captivating stories and informative articles across a wide range of topics. With a passion for effective communication and a love for research, Emily consistently produces engaging and valuable content. She’s dedicated to conveying ideas clearly and compellingly, making her a sought-after voice in the digital sphere. When not writing, Emily enjoys immersing herself in art, nature, and culinary adventures for fresh bursts of creativity.
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