Nerve Damage
Nerves located along the pathway from the mouth to the brain help the taste buds’ function properly and perception of flavor. When any of these nerves are damaged either from injury or illness, it negatively affects the taste buds. Some other potential factors responsible for loss of taste are; ear infections, brain trauma, dental procedures, facial nerve dysfunction and surgical procedures of the mouth. The nerve that innervates the anterior part of the tongue travels along the ear and divides off from the facial nerve. Bell’s palsy and multiple sclerosis can also cause loss of taste. Loss of taste can also be caused by Demyelination of chorda tympani, a branch of facial nerve. Studies have also shown that there is an accessory pathway of tongue innervation along the trigeminal nerve and damage to this nerve causes loss of taste.