For most people, taste comes back within a few months of a COVID-19 infection. A 2022 meta-analysis in the BMJ (Tan and colleagues), which pooled studies of adults whose taste was affected, estimated that about 79 percent had recovered their sense of taste by 30 days and about 90 percent by 90 days, while an estimated 4.4 percent might be left with longer-lasting taste problems. That smaller group, along with people who notice a dry or burning mouth after the infection, is who this article is for.
Which mouth symptoms come up after COVID-19
Long COVID, also called post-COVID-19 condition, describes symptoms that carry on or appear weeks to months after the original illness. Taste change and dry mouth are among the mouth-related symptoms reported most often in research, and some people also describe a burning feeling:
- Taste change (dysgeusia). Food may taste muted, different from before, or carry a lingering metallic or unpleasant note. Because flavour depends heavily on smell, a reduced sense of smell often shows up as a taste complaint.
- Dry mouth (xerostomia). A sticky, parched feeling, waking with a dry tongue, or finding dry foods hard to swallow.
- Burning sensation. A scalded or burning feel on the tongue, lips or roof of the mouth with nothing visible to explain it.
How common each of these is differs a lot between studies, depending on who was studied, how symptoms were measured and how long people were followed. Researchers agree there is a real pattern, but the figures are still being refined, and no single number applies to everyone.
Why the virus can affect the mouth
The virus that causes COVID-19 enters cells through a receptor called ACE2. A 2020 study in the International Journal of Oral Science (Xu and colleagues) analysed gene expression data and found ACE2 in the lining of the mouth, with especially high levels in cells of the tongue. A 2021 study in Nature Medicine (Huang and colleagues) went further, confirming that the virus can infect the minor salivary glands and the lining of the mouth.
That gives a plausible route for both taste change and dry mouth, through direct effects on these tissues and the inflammation that follows. Exactly why symptoms persist in some people and not others is still being worked out, so this is best seen as a likely explanation rather than a settled one.
A dentist can help with the effects on teeth and gums
A dentist cannot diagnose long COVID, and mouth symptoms alone do not confirm or exclude it, because several other conditions produce the same sensations. What a dentist can do is look after the knock-on effects in the mouth.
Saliva protects teeth by washing away food, neutralising acid and supplying minerals that help repair early decay. When it dries up, the risk of decay and gum problems can rise over time. A dentist or OHT can suggest saliva substitutes, extra fluoride, and changes to your home routine to lower that risk. Our guide to dry mouth causes and treatment covers these options whatever the original cause of the dryness.
For a burning mouth, the first job is to look for local causes that can be fixed, such as a denture that rubs, a reaction to an ingredient in toothpaste, or an infection such as thrush. If none is found, there are comfort measures worth trying, and our guide to burning mouth syndrome explains the wider range of causes. Regular reviews also let us keep an eye on the soft tissues over time.
Your GP looks after the bigger picture
Diagnosis and overall care for long COVID sit with your GP, who may involve other doctors depending on your symptoms. That includes looking at the whole pattern, ruling out other causes and arranging referrals. If changes in your mouth are part of a wider set of problems after COVID-19, such as tiredness, breathlessness or trouble concentrating, your GP is the right place to start.
It also helps to remember that persistent dry mouth has many other causes, including medicines and autoimmune conditions such as Sjogren's syndrome. Our article on Sjogren's syndrome and dry mouth explains why a proper assessment matters before putting it down to COVID-19.
Things you can do in the meantime
- Tell your GP about taste, smell or mouth changes that have not settled, especially after a confirmed or likely COVID-19 infection.
- Mention dry mouth or burning to your dentist at your next visit, even if it seems unrelated to your teeth.
- Sip water through the day and ask about saliva substitutes if dryness is affecting comfort or eating.
- Keep brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth, because a dry mouth is more prone to decay.
- Be wary of reading any one symptom as proof of long COVID on its own.
Questions we are often asked
Does lost taste after COVID-19 mean I have long COVID?
Not necessarily. Taste loss is common during and soon after the infection and usually improves. Taste changes that last for months can be part of long COVID, but they are not enough on their own to diagnose it. Your GP can look at the full picture.
How long does taste usually take to come back?
It varies. In the BMJ meta-analysis, most people had recovered their taste within one to three months, and a small minority had symptoms that lasted much longer.
Is a burning mouth always linked to COVID-19?
No. It has several possible causes, including denture problems, low levels of some vitamins or iron, dry mouth and other medical conditions, so it is worth having it checked rather than assuming one cause.
Should I see a dentist or a GP first?
Both have a role. Your GP looks at the wider health picture, particularly if you have other symptoms, and your dentist manages the effects on your teeth, gums and mouth lining.
If you are living with dry mouth, a changed sense of taste or discomfort in your mouth, the team at Lumi Dental can check the dental side and suggest ways to manage it day to day, alongside the care your GP provides. You can see our current offers or read about our general dentistry.
Sources
- Tan BKJ, Han R, Zhao JJ, et al. Prognosis and persistence of smell and taste dysfunction in patients with covid-19: meta-analysis with parametric cure modelling of recovery curves. BMJ. 2022;378:e069503. PubMed 35896188
- Xu H, Zhong L, Deng J, et al. High expression of ACE2 receptor of 2019-nCoV on the epithelial cells of oral mucosa. International Journal of Oral Science. 2020;12:8. PubMed 32094336
- Huang N, Pérez P, Kato T, et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection of the oral cavity and saliva. Nature Medicine. 2021;27(5):892 to 903. PubMed 33767405
- Theodoro EL, et al. Oral manifestations associated with long COVID: a scoping review. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem. 2026. PubMed 42339932
