You should get a new one. You really should. Plus, if you're dead, you can't be embarrassed, so really, what's the difference?!
That's odd that it left a taste in your mouth! Do you eat before bed, read, shower/bath, watch tv? Like what's your routine, have you tried anything different? Did you know that you dream about the last thing you see or hear before you go to sleep? Did you know that you usually only remember the dreams you have in your deepest state of sleep, and it actually wasn't the last thing you dreamed about?!
Lets see, couple of tricks I use sometimes - counting backwards. Lay in bed, preferably on your back tighten every muscle in your body, then one by one relax them....works like a charm for me. I'm a restless sleeper, and sometimes I think I have RLS....drives Steve nuts.