Causes of taste disorders and a loss of taste include:

upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold sinus infections middle ear infections poor oral hygiene and dental problems, such as gingivitis exposure to some chemicals, such as insecticides surgeries on the mouth, throat, nose, or ear head injuries radiation therapy for cancer in this area of the body Causes of smell disorders include:

getting older smoking growths in the nasal cavities conditions that affect the nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease Some medications may also affect a person’s ability to taste. These drugs include:

antifungal medications macrolides, which can treat some types of infection fluoroquinolones, a type of antibiotic proton pump inhibitors angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors protein kinase inhibitors HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins)