It may be most effective for people who have lost their sense of smell due to infection. Exposure to odors through smell training helps enhance this process. Unlike many other systems in the body, the olfactory system - the sensory system used for smelling - can adapt and regenerate. Olfactory training, also known as smell training, involves smelling four different scents daily to help restore a person’s sense of smell. People have tried using the following medications to get taste and smell back, although there is little data that proves they are effective:īelow are some other ways a person may be able to bring back their sense of smell and taste. Surgery can help restore taste and smell for individuals who have polyps. A doctor can adjust medication if this is causing the issue. diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’sĪ person with ongoing loss of taste and smell can work with a physician or a specialist.medications, such as drugs prescribed for high blood pressure or infections.nasal polyps, or small growths in the nose or sinuses.

Other viruses can cause the loss of taste and smell, including:Īdditional factors that cause the loss of taste and smell include: Learn more about loss of taste and smell with COVID-19. Less than 25% of people who get the Omicron variant also lose their sense of smell.

This is because the body detects the flavor of food and drink through smell and taste.ĬOVID-19 variants differ in how frequently they affect taste and smell. If a person experiences a loss of smell in this way, their taste is also usually affected. Scientists believe that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to COVID-19, causes the loss of smell and taste by suppressing the smell receptors in the nose that detect odors and the nerve impulses that transmit information about odors to the brain. The most common causes of the loss of taste and smell are sinus and nasal diseases, viruses, and trauma to the nasal area. Share on Pinterest Cécile Fourcade/Stocksy

How to get your taste buds back