Suck on Zinc Lozenges to Combat a Bad Taste in the Mouth

It's common among cancer patients to complain of a constant bad or metallic taste in the mouth, sometimes a side effect of chemo or radiation therapy and sometimes caused by dry mouth, mouth sores, or the cancer itself. Known as dysgeusia, it's usually temporary and goes away after treatment is over. Until it does, try having your parent suck on zinc lozenges, which are often used to treat colds and are available over the counter at drugstores and natural food stores. Patients say it takes away the "cardboard" taste, though there aren't solid studies yet to prove it.