How to Temporarily Numb Your Taste Buds

There are times when we are forced to eat or drink something unpleasant. Whether it’s a dish you can’t refuse out of politeness or a bitter medicine that’s hard to swallow, the unpleasant taste is unavoidable. Fortunately, your sense of taste, like all other senses, can be temporarily numbed or diminished. What's more, the solution is simple: control your breath or reach for a salt shaker to sprinkle on your food.

Pinch your nose. Our taste buds can only detect five flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami (savory). Other flavors are sensed by the nose. If you can avoid the smell of the food, you will eliminate most of its taste. Pinch your nose when eating or drinking anything to block out most of the flavor.

• Once you’ve swallowed your food, take a sip of water before releasing your nose to prevent the taste from lingering on your tongue. Rinsing your mouth with water is quite effective.
• If you're eating in a public place and can’t pinch your nose out of courtesy, you can exhale just before drinking a sip of water to avoid the unpleasant taste. Remember to take small bites to avoid choking when you breathe again.

Dry your mouth. Your sense of taste relies on saliva. You experience different tastes because of the interaction between food and saliva in your mouth. To remove almost all flavor, take a tissue and dry out the saliva in your mouth and on your tongue. However, remember that saliva will return after a few seconds, so make sure to eat quickly after drying your mouth.

Drink cold water. You may have noticed that food tastes slightly different depending on its temperature. Why is that? After all, it’s still the same food! The reality is that cold temperatures numb the palate and reduce the sensitivity of taste. If you can drink a glass of cold water before eating or drinking something unpleasant, that’s great. It’s even better if you can chill the food or drink itself.

Drink strong alcohol. High-proof beverages (like whiskey) have a numbing effect on the taste centers in your mouth and nose. Try to swallow the unpleasant food or drink quickly after consuming the alcohol for the best effect.

Sprinkle lots of salt on your food. If possible, sprinkle salt on any food that’s unpleasant to eat. Once the food is covered with enough salt, you’ll mostly taste the salt. Just don’t add too much, as excessive salt can also be unpleasant.

• In theory, you could use this method with any spice (even sugar), but salt is usually readily available and no one will really notice if you add it.

Gargle with peppermint extract. Pour some peppermint extract into a small bottle cap (such as the cap from a 700ml soda bottle). Gargle with the peppermint extract in the cap, then spit it out and rinse with cold water. Your taste buds will be slightly numbed for a few minutes due to the menthol in the extract.

• Mint extract also contains menthol like peppermint and can be used as a substitute.
• If you don’t have peppermint extract, you can use overpowering flavors like almond or chocolate extract. Gargle as you would with peppermint (using just one capful), and whatever you eat afterward will taste like the liquid you just gargled.

Use a straw. If you have to drink something unpleasant, use a straw to avoid touching your tongue. Try to place the straw deep into your mouth so the liquid flows directly down your throat without contacting your taste buds.

• This rule can also apply to food. Push the food to one side of your mouth and chew on your cheek so the food doesn’t touch your tongue.
• Try tilting your head back a little so the food or drink only briefly touches your tongue before it moves down your throat.

Prepare your favorite food. When you need to eat or drink something unpleasant, try consuming something you enjoy both before and after the unpleasant item. Eat quickly but carefully to avoid choking. The faster you swallow the unwanted taste, the less time you'll have to endure the unpleasant sensation.

See a doctor. If you notice that food is starting to taste unpleasant, or if foods you once enjoyed no longer taste good, you may be dealing with a larger issue. There are many causes for persistent bad taste, ranging from side effects of over-the-counter medications, smoking, to other causes. If you find yourself frequently seeking ways to numb your taste buds, it’s best to schedule an appointment with a doctor.

Scrape your tongue. Maintaining good hygiene is essential to keep your taste buds in optimal condition. Brushing and flossing regularly may not always remove all the bacteria that contribute to persistent bad tastes. A tongue scraper is inexpensive, and incorporating this into your routine every morning and night is easy to do.

• Many toothbrushes come with a tongue scraper on the back of the brush head. You can find one of these to save on costs.

Expand your taste buds. Many unpleasant tastes you experience result from negative perceptions or situations. Perhaps something you ate or drank earlier is affecting the taste of other foods, or maybe the food was not prepared correctly. In any case, don't be afraid to give it another try.

• If there's a particular food you want to avoid, try revisiting it at a new restaurant that you haven't been to before—one that has good reviews online or comes recommended by friends. Don't let one bad experience completely turn you away from something.
• If you find a food to be bland or inconsistent in taste, try searching for recipes online and learn to cook it yourself. Cooking your own meals gives you the freedom to adjust things according to your own taste.