Your taste buds are 10 days old! Your body’s 10,000-odd taste buds contain microscopic hairs called microvilli that convey facts about food to your brain. Taste buds are replaced often, but this process slows down (and some taste buds stop being replaced) with age. Older adults may only have 5,000 taste buds, which is why certain foods don’t taste as flavourful to seniors. Smoking can also reduce the number of taste buds a person has.
When damaged taste buds are caused by an underlying medical condition, they can be repaired by treating the underlying condition. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, while viral infections can be managed with plenty of rest at home.
For more serious conditions, such as those that cause long-term nerve damage, treatment may not necessarily restore the function of the taste buds. Ultimately, recovery depends on the extent of the nerve damage and the body’s ability to repair it.
When medications are the cause of loss of taste, your doctor may choose to adjust or change your medication to alleviate this side effect.
Taste bud changes can occur naturally as we age or may be caused by an underlying medical condition. Viral and bacterial illnesses of the upper respiratory system are a common cause of loss of taste. In addition, many commonly prescribed medications can also lead to a change in the function of the taste buds. In some cases, a more serious underlying condition may be causing a change in the perception of taste.
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