Hi Rachel,
No the food doesn't have to be hot. But sharing this theory brings up a situation that may have ruined my taste buds.

I had thresh mouth when I was about 4 years old and had to go to the emergency room. I had tons of canker sores in my mouth. Now I still get severe cases of canker sores and I bet they have destroyed my taste buds over the years. I get these canker sores in every possible place you could imagine. I've had them on my tonsils, in the back of my throat, in the back of my tongue on my taste buds, on my gums. I have had 18 canker sores in my mouth at one time. It's horrible pain. I bet they leave scares in my mouth, which would numb that place they were at. Hmmm!

Thanks for sharing Rachel and 2quilt, because I bet the canker sores is what the problem is along with my medications.

Tammy