Which of the following is listed as a potential cause of taste impairment?

• A. Headache
• B. Laceration or burning of the tongue
• C. Smoking
• D. Allergic reaction

Answer: (B)

Taste depends on the receptors on the tongue—the taste buds and the nerves that carry those signals. When the tongue is injured by a cut or a burn, those taste receptors can be damaged or disrupted, so taste perception is diminished or altered. That direct, local disruption is why laceration or burning of the tongue is a listed cause of taste impairment.

Headache doesn’t directly affect the taste receptors; it’s a pain symptom rather than a cause of taste loss. Smoking can change taste over time due to chemical exposure and saliva changes, but the mechanism is indirect rather than a direct injury to the taste apparatus. An allergic reaction can cause mouth swelling or irritation that might temporarily affect taste, but it’s not the most straightforward or common cause compared to direct tongue injury.