For most of us, the ability to taste and enjoy the flavor of foods and beverages is something we take for granted. Most of us simply don't know how lucky we are to have such amazing senses at our disposal. Due to a number of relatively uncommon disorders that affect chemosensory chemical responses, some people are unable to take pleasure in flavors at all. It is only when we realize that some are incapable of enjoying this sensation that we see that this sense in particular truly is a gift to be appreciated every day.
Miniscule bundles of gustatory cells, more commonly known as taste buds, cover the tongue and other areas of the mouth. When everything is functioning as it should, these buds allow a person to experience the varying sensations of salty, bitter, sweet, sour and savory foods. Unfortunately, when certain disorders are present, conditions like hypogeusia and ageusia become a very real problem.
Hypogeusia refers to the diminished ability to sense the saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, sourness and savory qualities of substances. Total loss of this ability is called ageusia and is quite rare. It may occur following surgery of the ear or throat and is often only temporary. In most cases, a person who finds that they are no longer tasting foods or beverages is actually suffering from a loss of smell as the two senses are very closely related.
In addition to invasive surgery, there are various other reasons that an individual may experience a temporary decrease or total loss of taste sensation. These include severe head trauma, a brain tumor, poor oral hygiene and injury to the mouth, along with infection of the sinuses or tissues in the oral cavity.
Treatment of this type of condition varies depending on the severity of the problem and its root cause. An otolaryngologist, or ear, nose and throat doctor, can suggest treatment plans that suit your individual lifestyle and condition. Medical scientists are currently conducting more research into the cause and treatment of disorders like these to help the men and women whose lives are regularly affected.
Because many of the fun daily activities people enjoy are centered around food, the ability to fully savor the various nuances of each food proves an invaluable asset. Dining in restaurants and taking pleasure in the homemade hors d'oeuvres at parties is something we often take as a given, but it's important that we understand how lucky we are to enjoy such a luxury.