Chewing gum restores dad's taste and smell years after Covid

Summary

A dad who lost his sense of taste and smell for years after catching covid has had both senses restored – thanks to specially-developed chewing gum. The revolutionary clinical trial at the University of Nottingham saw a group of participants chew flavoured chewing gums for 12 weeks. The specially-developed gums had different super-strength flavours – including spicy, minty, sour and sweet. The successful pilot study, designed by Dr Nicole Yang, aimed to encourage repair of brain connections associated with smell and taste. One such participant was Dr Paul Wicks, 44, who lost his taste and smell after catching covid in August 2022 – and it never came back. Dr Paul Wicks. (Pix via Dr Paul Wicks / SWNS) Covid survivor says losing smell affected family memories The dad-of-two, from Litchfield, Staffordshire, could eat the spiciest curries with no effect, and couldn’t smell a thing when he changed nappies. But he longed to smell his favourite smells – coffee beans, shaving cream, his favourite foods, and his children’s hair. After just six weeks of the 12-week trial starting in November 2024, Paul noticed his sense of taste and smell returning – and says it has now been restored to what it was before covid. Paul, a medical researcher, said: “My sense of smell and taste went with covid – and never came back. “I couldn’t smell anything when taking out the bins or changing nappies – but I also found it sad that everything smelled like nothing. “Your memory formation is influenced by smells – birthday cakes, your dog, things from your childhood. I was concerned I wasn’t making good memories, especially with my kids and wife. “For the first few weeks of the trial I didn’t notice anything, until I tasted a blueberry in my oats for breakfast one day and this sweet flavour exploded. “That was the first time I had tasted my breakfast in years. “Over the weeks I started being able to taste and smell things again, and now I’m back to where I was pre-covid. I feel great. “Now one of...