We Finally Know The Reason Why Some Fruit Makes Your Mouth Tingle (2024)

FAQs

We Finally Know The Reason Why Some Fruit Makes Your Mouth Tingle? ›

There are plant proteins in pollen, and in raw fruits and vegetables. So when you take a bite of certain foods, your body can think there's pollen in your mouth. This leads to an oral allergic reaction, causing itching and tingling.

Enzymes in those fruits can cause a tingling sensation. That's not an immune response — it's like how spicy foods can make your mouth feel hot and tingly. “It's more of a protective response from the fruit itself against potential invaders of the plant,” he says.

The tangly, salty and slightly metallic taste of a fruit tingle was traditionally created by bicarbonate of soda – these days potassium bicarbonate is used instead. Both ingredients often appear in antacids, meaning fruit tingles are actually good for heartburn.

Fruits, vegetables and nuts can cause oral allergy syndrome. They have proteins that look similar to pollen proteins, so your body reacts the same way it would to a tree, grass or plant allergen.

Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS), also known as oral allergy syndrome, is caused by cross-reacting allergens found in both pollen and raw fruits, vegetables, or some tree nuts. The immune system recognizes the pollen and similar proteins in the food and directs an allergic response to it.

So when you take a bite of certain foods, your body can think there's pollen in your mouth. This leads to an oral allergic reaction, causing itching and tingling. This reaction can happen with just one specific fruit or vegetable, or it can happen with multiple different foods.

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)

This reaction occurs because the proteins found in some fruits and vegetables are very similar to those found in pollen. These proteins can confuse the immune system and cause an allergic reaction or make existing symptoms worse, which is referred to as cross-reactivity.

It happens because some fruit and vegetables, such as strawberries and cucumbers, have proteins that look like pollen to the body, so it reacts by producing antibodies that can cause your mouth and throat to tingle or itch. This allergy is unlikely to worsen with each exposure, and it's not lethal.

An unusual sign of vitamin B12 may show up in the mouth, what medical experts call as 'lingual paresthesia'. The oral condition is characterized by an unpleasant sensation or tingling or pricking or a feeling of swelling or burning on the tongue.

What is the fruit oral syndrome? ›

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS), a type of food allergy, is an allergic reaction that is confined to the lips, mouth and throat. OAS most commonly occurs in people with asthma or hay fever from tree pollen who eat fresh (raw) fruits or vegetables. Other pollen allergies may also trigger OAS.

Foods That May Cause Oral Allergy Syndrome:

Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Orange, Tomato, Watermelon. Banana, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Honeydew, Peach, Watermelon, Zucchini.

The weird feeling in your mouth after eating pineapple is due to bromelain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins and can induce a tingling or burning sensation.

Food intolerance

Intolerance to fruits could be part of a wider intolerance to foods caused by a sensitivity to chemicals that are present naturally in the fruits, or an inability to digest the sugars found in them. A food intolerance can have a much wider range of symptoms, including: migraine. fatigue.

If you have a true sugar allergy, you might experience certain symptoms when you eat sugar, such as: Hives. Congestion. An itchy, tingling sensation in your mouth.

If you think you are having an allergic reaction after eating apples, you likely have oral allergy syndrome (OAS), especially if the symptoms are mild, don't last long, and only affect your mouth.