Burning mouth syndrome
Overview
Burning mouth syndrome causes chronic burning pain in your mouth. The pain from burning mouth syndrome may affect your tongue, gums, lips, inside of your cheeks, roof of your mouth, or widespread areas of your whole mouth. The pain can be severe, as if you scalded your mouth.
Symptoms
Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome include: * A burning sensation that may affect your tongue, lips, gums, palate, throat or whole mouth * A tingling or numb sensation in your mouth or on the tip of your tongue * Mouth pain that worsens as the day progresses * A sensation of dry mouth * Increased thirst * Sore mouth * Loss of taste * Taste changes, such as a bitter or metallic taste The pain from burning mouth syndrome typically has several different patterns. It may occur every day, with little pain when you wake but becoming worse as the day progresses. Or it may start as soon as you wake up and last all day. Or pain may come and go, and you may even have some entirely pain-free days.
Causes
When the cause of burning mouth syndrome isn't known, the condition is called primary or idiopathic burning mouth syndrome. Sometimes burning mouth syndrome is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as a nutritional deficiency. In these cases, it's called secondary burning mouth syndrome.
Diagnosis
A review of your medical history, a thorough oral examination, and a general medical examination may help identify the source of your burning mouth. Tests may include: * blood work to look for infection, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders associated with BMS such as diabetes or thyroid problems * oral swab to check for oral candidiasis * allergy testing for denture materials, certain foods, or other substances that may be causing your symptoms.
Treatment
There's no one sure way to treat burning mouth syndrome, and solid research on the most effective methods is lacking. Treatment depends on your particular signs and symptoms, as well as any underlying conditions that may be causing your mouth pain. That's why it's important to try to pinpoint what's causing your burning mouth pain. Once any underlying causes are treated, your burning mouth syndrome symptoms should get better. If a cause can't be found, treatment can be challenging. There's no known cure for primary burning mouth syndrome. You may need to try several treatment methods before finding one or a combination that is helpful in reducing your mouth pain. Treatment options may include: * A lozenge-type form of the anticonvulsant medication clonazepam (Klonopin) * Alpha-lipoic acid, a strong antioxidant produced naturally by the body * Oral thrush medications * Certain antidepressants * B vitamins * Cognitive behavioral therapy * Special oral rinses or mouth washes * Saliva replacement products * Capsaicin, a pain reliever that comes from chili peppers Surgery isn't recommended for burning mouth syndrome.