Sometimes you have to eat or drink something that doesn't taste good. Whether it is delicate situations that cannot be avoided or bitter medicines that are difficult to swallow, the unpleasant taste is inevitable. Fortunately, taste is like all the other senses and it is possible to reduce the perception in a simple way, for example by controlling the breath or adding salt.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Altering the Taste
Step 1. Plug your nose
The taste buds recognize only five flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and fatty ("umami"). The rest is perceived by the nose. If you can avoid smelling what you eat, you can evade most of the flavors. Hold your nose while you ingest something to neutralize much of the taste sensitivity.
- If you want to avoid a taste, take a sip of the drink before clearing your nostrils so as not to taste the taste that remains on the tongue. To be safe, shake the liquid in your mouth.
- If you are in a restaurant with other people or are in a place where you cannot discreetly plug your nose, exhale before taking a bite or a sip to inhibit the flavor. Do not ingest too much food or liquid to avoid choking when you resume breathing.
Step 2. Dry your mouth
Saliva plays a fundamental role in the perception of flavors. The latter constantly change depending on the chemical reactions that take place between food and saliva. Take a paper towel and wipe your mouth and tongue: it will allow you to almost totally neutralize the taste. However, remember that you will be producing more saliva within seconds, so eat quickly after wiping your mouth.
- If you prefer a more discreet alternative, you can use cotton swabs instead of paper towels, although you will most likely need more than one.
- If you know that you have to eat something you don't like during the day, avoid drinking water first. Opt for caffeinated drinks, such as sodas or coffee, to dehydrate your mouth - it should be dry enough when you sit down to eat.
Step 3. Drink cold water
Surely you have noticed that the dishes change their flavor slightly depending on the temperature. Because? After all, it is the same food. The reason is that the cold numbs the palate, attenuating the perception of flavors. If you have the option to drink a glass of cold water just before eating or drinking something unpleasant, it will be better. If you can cool what you need to ingest, that's perfect.
If it doesn't cause you any major problems (perhaps preferable if you have cold-sensitive teeth), try blanching your tongue with a hot drink (tea, coffee, or chocolate). Heat desensitizes the taste buds when you ingest something hot
Step 4. Go for a hard alcohol
A drink with a high concentration of alcohol (such as whiskey) produces a mildly anesthetic effect on the sensory receptors located in the mouth and nose. For best results, try to eat or drink what you don't like right after drinking alcohol.
If you're a child or don't have hard alcohol available, try an alcohol-based mouthwash, such as Listerine. Helps inhibit taste sensitivity while leaving a strong mint flavor
Part 2 of 3: Being Proactive
Step 1. Use the salt
If you can, pour it over dishes you don't like so that every bite can only taste its flavor. However, don't overdo it as too much salt would make that food just as unpleasant.
In theory, you can do this with any spice and seasoning (including sugar), although salt is usually always on hand and even in excessive doses does not attract the attention of diners
Step 2. Make a peppermint rinse
Fill a measuring cup with mint extract and pour it into your mouth. Shake it as you would with mouthwash. Then expel it and rinse your mouth with cold water. It will help you to reduce the perception of flavors for a few minutes thanks to the fresh taste of mint.
- Spearmint extract is a perfect alternative because it has the same concentration of menthol as peppermint.
- If you don't have any menthol-based extracts available, you can opt for a stronger flavor, such as that of almond or chocolate extract. Proceed in the same way (putting only a measuring cup in your mouth) and whatever you eat afterwards will take on the flavor of the extract.
Step 3. Use a straw
If you have to drink something you don't like, use a straw to avoid contact with your tongue. Try to bring the liquid to the back of your mouth so it can go straight down your throat avoiding your taste buds.
- You can also use this when you eat. Move the food to the sides of your mouth and chew it along your cheeks so it doesn't touch your tongue.
- Try to tilt your head back slightly to allow chewed food or drink to enter your throat quickly.
Step 4. Have something you like on hand
If there is a dish or drink you don't want to try, try to ingest something good first. Swallow quickly, but be careful not to choke or hurt yourself. The more the taste buds are in contact with a pleasant taste, the faster the perception of the unpleasant one will disappear.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Bad Taste in the Mouth
Step 1. See your doctor
If you notice that everything you eat starts to take on an unpleasant taste or you are no longer able to eat the dishes you used to like, it could be a health problem. Numerous factors lead to bad taste in the mouth: for example, it can be the side effect of a drug or depend on the consumption of tobacco products. If it persists, see your doctor.
Step 2. Start cleaning your tongue
For the health of the taste buds it is essential to take care of oral hygiene. However, regular brushing and flossing don't always remove all the bacteria that cause bad breath. Buy a lingual scraper - it's cheap and easy to add to your morning and evening oral cleansing routine.
Many toothbrushes include the lingual scraper on the back of the brush head. Opt for this solution, also to save money
Step 3. Stimulate the palate
Many unpleasant tastes could result from altered taste perception mechanisms or past experiences. Maybe something you ate or drank left you with an unpleasant taste or maybe it wasn't prepared properly. Either way, don't be afraid to sample foods and drinks that have disgusted you in the past.
- If you avoid a particular type of cuisine, try it at a new restaurant, especially if it has good reviews on the Internet or has been recommended to you by friends. Don't let yourself be indisposed by a bad experience.
- If it's a dish, search for the recipe online and learn how to cook it. By doing so, you have the opportunity to modify it to your liking.
