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"Metallic Taste After Heart Valve Surgery?" Asks Robin

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: June 8, 2025

I just received a set of emails from Robin about a metallic taste in her mouth after heart valve surgery. So you know, Robin is not the only patient to send me questions about this strange, surgical after taste.

In his first email, Robin writes, "Ever since my aortic valve replacement surgery I have had a nasty metallic taste in my mouth. It gets especially bad if I eat anything sweet. The cardiologist theorizes that it is a by product of the heart-lung machine. Anybody else experience it? Anybody have any ideas of how to get rid of it? Thanks, Robin"

Then, I received a follow-up note from Robin with a short-term remedy to this issue.

Here is what Robin writes, "Since I last wrote to you I found a website that suggested gargling with water and a 1/4 tsp of baking soda. It worked!!! It brought relief at least for a few hours. Ultimately, the bad taste did go away on its own, but the baking soda gets a great assist. Robin"

Thanks Robin for sharing your remedy!

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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