About this topic
Burning mouth syndrome is also known as BMS. It a painful, burning feeling inside or around your mouth. The burning pain can affect your tongue and the roof of your mouth. You may also have the same feelings on your gums, the inside of your cheeks, and throat. BMS may get worse during the day and ease at night. The pain may also come and go. Some people also have dry mouth. Others have a metallic taste in their mouth. ‚
What are the causes?
The exact cause of BMS is hard to know. It may be caused by: ‚
- An underlying health problem like:
- Problems with your hormones
- Nerve damage
- Poor nutrition
- Anxiety or low mood
- Problems with your mouth like:
- Dentures that do not fit well
- Dry mouth
- Sharp or broken teeth
- Other problems like:
- Infection in your mouth
- Allergy to food or dye
- Reflux of stomach acid
- Certain drugs
- Tongue thrusting or teeth grinding
What can make this more likely to happen?
BMS happens more often in women than men, but anyone can be affected. It happens more often in people over 50 years of age. You are also at a higher risk if you: ‚
- Have upper lung infections
- Have a food allergy
- Have past dental procedures
- Are stressed
- Take certain drugs
What are the main signs?
- A burning sensation of any part of your mouth. This includes the tongue, lips, gums, and throat. It also includes the roof of your mouth and the area around your mouth.
- A tingling or numb feeling in your mouth or at the tip of your tongue
- Pain in your mouth that gets worse over time
- Dry mouth
- Increased thirst
- Mouth sore
- Loss of taste or changes in your taste. You may have a bitter or metallic taste.
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
- Your doctor will take your history and do an exam. The doctor will check your mouth and tongue for:
- Abnormal changes in size, shape, and color
- White patches on the inside of your cheeks
- Masses and infections on your tongue, tonsils, or floor of your mouth
- Your doctor may:
- Feel your jaw, neck, and shoulder muscle for tenderness and injury
- Check your skin, nails, and joint for any changes
- Check your teeth for fractures, infections, or dentures
- You may have to answer questions about your oral care routine.
- The doctor may order:
- Blood tests ¢ ˆ ’ to check your complete blood count, glucose levels, and other blood-related tests to know the source of your mouth pain.
- A swab for mouth cultures ¢ ˆ ’ to see if there is an infection
- MRI and CT scan ¢ ˆ ’ to check for other health problem that may be causing your signs
- Allergy tests ¢ ˆ ’ to check if you have allergy to certain foods, denture materials, or other substances
- Salivary flow measurements ¢ ˆ ’ to know if you have a reduced flow of saliva
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
There is no specific treatment for burning mouth syndrome. Treatment will depend on what is causing your mouth pain. If a cause cannot be found, you may need to try a few treatments to help ease mouth pain. Your doctor may have you: ‚
- Take drugs or change the drugs you are taking
- Go to therapy to help deal with the pain
- Use oral rinses or mouthwashes
- Remove irritants like dentures or crowns
Are there other health problems to treat?
- Trouble sleeping
- Immune deficiency
- Hormone imbalance
- Irritability
- Low mood
- Anxiety
- Trouble eating
What lifestyle changes are needed?
- Avoid drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) and coffee.
- Avoid smoking.
- Practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth 2 to 3 times each day. Clean dentures, bridges, and crowns each day.
- Get regular checkups with your dentist. Most dentists want to see you every 6 months.
- Avoid stress.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Ease mouth pain
- Treat infections
- Treat anxiety or low mood
- Ease dry mouth
Will there be any other care needed?
- You may want to change your diet to make it easier to eat.
- Puree, blend, or liquefy foods. This makes them easier to swallow.
- Eat soft, creamy foods like soup, mashed potatoes, yogurts, and cereals.
- Avoid eating hot and spicy foods.
- Avoid foods and drinks with a lot of acid. These include citrus fruits, soft drinks, soda, and coffee.
- Avoid rough and hard foods. These include dry toast, chips, nuts, and crackers.
- Take good care of your teeth.
- Rinse your mouth. Gargle with mouthwash. Avoid mouthwashes that have alcohol in them.
- Brush your teeth or dentures with baking soda and water.
- Try to change the brand of your toothpaste.
- Drink lots of fluids. Sip water often.
- Suck on ice chips.
- Chew sugar-free gum. This will help with dry mouth.
- Try to relax. Do yoga or listen to music.
- Your doctor may ask you to keep a diary to see how your signs respond to treatment.
Where can I learn more?
Academy of General Dentistry ‚
http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=B&iid=293&aid=1141 ‚
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome.printerview.all.html ‚
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research ‚
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/Burning/ ‚
National Organization for Rare Diseases ‚
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/234/viewAbstract ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚