The virus that causes COVID-19 does not affect olfactory sensory neurons rather, it affects the support cells in the nasal lining that interact with those neurons. Consume foods with strong flavors (such as spicy or acidic foods)įAQs About COVID-19, Taste, and Smell + How does COVID-19 affect the senses of taste and smell?ĬOVID-19 can affect these senses because of the types of cells it infects.Smell-train your brain with familiar scents.Use a nasal decongestant (or prescribed steroid).Eat slowly, so food has time to “sit” on the taste buds.+ 10 Quick Tips for Regaining Your Sense of Taste and Your Sense of Smell Why the symptom lingers in some people remains relatively unknown. A loss of taste and smell is sometimes caused by inflammation in the sinus cavity, which can tamp down olfactory sensitivity. For some people, these senses return a few weeks after they recover from COVID-19 for others, the return can take a few months or longer.

While an inability to taste and smell is associated with many conditions (and is a side effect of some medications), we’ve seen this symptom on an especially large scale with COVID-19. Plus, we use our sense of smell not only for pleasure but also to detect danger, such as a gas leak, and to take care of our loved ones, such as figuring out whether the baby needs a new diaper. Losing your sense of taste and sense of smell is more than a mere annoyance - enjoying food is a fundamental human pleasure, so having that ability taken away can be very unsettling (and prevent us from taking in sufficient calories and nutrition).

How you get your taste buds back