Hey all! My name is Shane. I'm new here and just started carnivore about 12 days ago. 

A few things I noticed. Smells have been super sensitive to me. Also, the inside of my mouth has been sensitive and sore. Toothpaste and brushing really irritate it. 

Has anyone else experienced this? 

Welcome to Carnivore Talk Shane. 

I have not experienced that and haven’t heard of anyone else experiencing it either. 
We can have different experiences from each other though. 
The sensitivity to smells may be that your body is cleaning up as it heals. I know my taste is more sensitive than it used to be. My smell has never been good (too many fights lol!)  so I can’t compare that. 
The sensitivity in the mouth could be from some form of oxalate dumping or detoxification. It’s hard to say. Then again it may have absolutely nothing to do with eating carnivore. 
If it persists you could try rinsing your mouth twice a day for one minute each with hydrogen peroxide. 

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Geezy

Hi Shane, welcome! It's not uncommon for people starting the carnivore diet to experience some sensitivity, especially early on. The increased sensitivity to smells and soreness in the mouth could be related to your body adjusting to the diet and detoxifying. Some people report changes in taste and mouth sensitivity as their bodies adapt to a high-protein, low-carb regimen.

As for the toothpaste irritation, it's possible that the ingredients in certain brands can be harsher on a more sensitive mouth. You could try a gentler toothpaste, or one that's free of irritants like fluoride or SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), which some people find aggravates their gums or tongue.

Have you noticed any other changes since starting the carnivore diet?

 

 

 

Welcome. I don't have that actual experience, but my tastes are different now. 

I have been carnivore for just over 11 months. About five months in and I tasted my wife's BBQ sauce. It didn't taste bad, but it was not the same as before. I tasted it again the other night and it was like it had ten times the amount of sugar. I am super sensitive taste wise to sugar, I guess. 

Good luck as you continue with carnivore. The positives have been amazing for me.

Scott

2 hours ago, qassembbh said:

Hi Shane, welcome! It's not uncommon for people starting the carnivore diet to experience some sensitivity, especially early on. The increased sensitivity to smells and soreness in the mouth could be related to your body adjusting to the diet and detoxifying. Some people report changes in taste and mouth sensitivity as their bodies adapt to a high-protein, low-carb regimen.

As for the toothpaste irritation, it's possible that the ingredients in certain brands can be harsher on a more sensitive mouth. You could try a gentler toothpaste, or one that's free of irritants like fluoride or SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), which some people find aggravates their gums or tongue.

Have you noticed any other changes since starting the carnivore diet?

 

 

 

Those are the main two things right now. I would also say that the hunger that I used to experience has all but gone away. I get hungry, but I only feeling it once maybe twice a day now. When I eat, I feel full for along time. 

14 hours ago, ShaneSmith said:

Also, the inside of my mouth has been sensitive and sore. Toothpaste and brushing really irritate it.

I did at the beginning. My mouth, particularly where the bottom of the lips met the bottom of the gum line, was very sore. Certain things would "sting" when I ate or drank them, and my usual toothpaste at the time was suddenly painful to use. I also had a metallic taste that would never go away. This is sometimes referred to as "keto breath" and it a transition/adaptation symptom. It lasted for several weeks and then went away.

For the time being, I had to switch toothpastes, and I went to a Tom's toothpaste product that was flouride-free. In time though, this corrected itself and now I no longer have the metallic breath/taste or the sensitivity, and I can brush again with any brand of toothpaste again. 

1 minute ago, Bob said:

I did at the beginning. My mouth, particularly where the bottom of the lips met the bottom of the gum line, was very sore. Certain things would "sting" when I ate or drank them, and my usual toothpaste at the time was suddenly painful to use. I also had a metallic taste that would never go away. This is sometimes referred to as "keto breath" and it a transition/adaptation symptom. It lasted for several weeks and then went away.

For the time being, I had to switch toothpastes, and I went to a Tom's toothpaste product that was flouride-free. In time though, this corrected itself and now I no longer have the metallic breath/taste or the sensitivity, and I can brush again with any brand of toothpaste again. 

Good to know Im not alone then. Thank you! 

6 hours ago, ShaneSmith said:

I would also say that the hunger that I used to experience has all but gone away. I get hungry, but I only feeling it once maybe twice a day now. When I eat, I feel full for along time.

All net positives. 
Use those to your advantage. Eat only when hungry and eat plenty of fat as it is the fat that keeps us satisfied for so long. 

Carny for 4 years and teeth and mouth have never been better for me. I switched to a non fluoride toothpaste about a year ago. BOKA brand is what i now use. It's a nano hydroxyapatite based toothpaste and really works well. It also contains xylitol which has been shown to help with cavity protection by reducing the acids in your mouth. Wife tried the BOKA and she had a few teeth that became sensitive to heat and cold items, so she went back to a fluoride based product. So, "your mileage may very"

 I also used to get canker sores (since the age of 5!) and eating carny they are no longer a thing in my life. I cannot remember the last time I had one.

Edited April 13Apr 13 by Terry
I had more to say

I use baking soda, or just a wet brush... sometimes I use arm and hammer 

On 4/13/2025 at 9:11 AM, Terry said:

Carny for 4 years and teeth and mouth have never been better for me. I switched to a non fluoride toothpaste about a year ago. BOKA brand is what i now use. It's a nano hydroxyapatite based toothpaste and really works well. It also contains xylitol which has been shown to help with cavity protection by reducing the acids in your mouth. Wife tried the BOKA and she had a few teeth that became sensitive to heat and cold items, so she went back to a fluoride based product. So, "your mileage may very"

 I also used to get canker sores (since the age of 5!) and eating carny they are no longer a thing in my life. I cannot remember the last time I had one.

Also use the same. Also improved teeth health and gums since on carnivore. No more carbs attacking that enamel all the time.

Two factors may play a role, I do take Iodine since carnivore, and probably consume more collagen. Add to that, that I no longer use fluoride (Blocking intake of iodine), it makes sense that teeth and gums become more healthy.