Ageusia is a loss of the sense of taste. The taste buds are tiny bumps that lie on the surface of the tongue and send different flavors to the brain. People with ageusia may have impaired taste buds, typically due to dry mouth, or they may have damage in the nerves that transfers the senses of taste and smell to the brain. Rarely, people could have ageusia because the area of their brain that recognizes the sense of taste is damaged. Although ageusia is not common, many people who have lost their sense of smell think they might have ageusia since the senses of taste and smell are closely related in the brain. Based on what the cause is, ageusia may be short-term or permanent.
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