These are simple but telling signs that may reveal underlying illnesses in your body. Take a look and find ways to prevent these conditions.

For over a week, every morning when my husband woke up, he complained of a salty taste in his mouth. At first, I thought it was because he was too lazy to brush his teeth at night, so I kept nagging him. But when I realized he was cleaning his teeth thoroughly every evening before bed, I started to worry and urged him to get checked. After an ultrasound and tests, the doctor confirmed that he had kidney disease.

Last night, I searched online and discovered that unusual tastes in the mouth upon waking, like what my husband experienced, can be warning signs of dangerous conditions silently developing inside the organs. I’m sharing this so everyone can stay alert!

Six Strange Morning Tastes That Signal Organ Problems

1. Sweet Taste in the Mouth: Stomach and Spleen Issues
If you wake up with a sweet taste in your mouth, beware of stomach and spleen disorders.

• Stomach problems: The sweet taste is often linked to abnormal secretion of digestive enzymes. This disrupts digestive function, raising amylase levels in saliva, which stimulates the taste buds and creates sweetness.

• Spleen problems: People with an overheated spleen often have dry mouths, yellow urine, poor appetite, and constant fatigue. Phlegm may also taste sweet. In diabetics, a sweet taste in the mouth is also a sign of high blood sugar.

2. Salty Taste in the Mouth: Kidney Issues

If you swallow saliva upon waking and notice a salty taste, it may indicate kidney weakness. If this is accompanied by frequent urination, lower back and waist pain, chills, fatigue, or other unusual symptoms, you should get your kidneys examined immediately.

3. Fishy Taste in the Mouth: Lung Heat

If your mouth tastes fishy in the morning, this may signal that your lungs are overheated.

To ease the condition, consume cooling foods for the lungs, such as houttuynia leaves, lily bulbs, hawthorn fruit, pears, or almonds in moderation. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.

4. Sour Taste in the Mouth: Stomach Acid, Spleen, and Liver Problems

If you wake up with a sour taste, it may indicate abnormalities in the stomach or liver, such as excess liver energy or high stomach acidity.

The body may show fatigue, low mood, poor appetite, or even loss of appetite. When digestive issues appear, you should strengthen the spleen, detoxify the system, and care for the liver promptly.

5. Bitter Taste in the Mouth: Liver and Gallbladder Issues



The liver produces bile, and the gallbladder stores it. If there’s a problem with these organs, the mouth will taste bitter.

If bitterness is accompanied by anxiety, restlessness, or discomfort in the liver and stomach regions, you should consult a doctor right away to prevent complications.

6. Loss of Taste: Digestive Problems

If you cannot taste or food seems bland, it may be related to digestive disorders, endocrine issues, malnutrition, stomach or spleen weakness, or vitamin/mineral deficiencies.

To restore taste, increase your intake of protein and vitamin-rich foods such as chicken, fish, fruits, and fresh vegetables. Eating two hawthorn fruits after meals may also stimulate stomach acid secretion. However, if the bland taste persists, consult a doctor to check the relevant organ functions.