What Is Burning Mouth Syndrome?

Burning tongue and mouth syndrome is a painful condition when your lips, tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, or inside of your cheeks feel burning, often complemented by dry mouth and altered taste sensations. These unpleasant symptoms can worsen throughout the day and renew the following day. The burning mouth syndrome is divided into two types:

• Ongoing: symptoms last from the time you wake up throughout the day, with the duration varying from months to years.
• Recurring: less common, when intermittent symptoms alternate with symptom-free days.

Symptoms of BMS

Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome are highly insidious: not only they might appear all of a sudden but have different patterns. For example, you might have your lips feel burned one day and experience the roof of your mouth burning the other day. They might come and go but always come back, accompanied by:

• A scalding feeling of your tongue, gums, lips, roof of your mouth, throat, or entire mouth;
• A sensation of dry mouth with boosted thirst;
• A metallic or bitter taste in your mouth;
• Complete loss of taste;
• Stinging, tingling, or numbness in your mouth.

Glossalgia causes

The causes for burning mouth syndrome are still debated. The American Academy of Oral Medicine suggests BMS is a form of neuropathic pain when the nerves in the mouth that control pain and taste are easily stimulated and excited. 

Primary

Primary burning mouth syndrome is a benign condition without an underlying medical problem, caused by damage to the nerves in charge of feeling pain.

Secondary

Secondary burning mouth syndrome can appear as a result of certain medical conditions, including:

• Depression;
• Oral habits (jaw clenching or teeth grinding);
• Allergies to foods, dental products, or dental materials;
• Hormonal changes from a thyroid problem to diabetes;
• Dry mouth caused by particular disorders (for example, Sjögren’s syndrome), radiation therapy, or certain drugs;
• Nutritional deficiencies, including a low level of iron or vitamin B);
• Medicines reducing blood pressure;
• Certain infections in the mouth such as an oral yeast infection;
• Acid reflux.

In this case, you first have to treat the primary medical problem to say “goodbye” to the secondary BMS.

Can certain medications cause burning mouth syndrome?

If you take any prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, they might induce dry mouth burning tongue syndrome: 

• Clonazepam;
• Efavirenz;
• Hormonal replacement therapies;
• Fluoxetine;
• Sertraline;
• Antihypertensive agents such as lisinopril, captopril, and enalapril.

What vitamin deficiency causes burning mouth syndrome?

Nutritional deficiencies, such as a low level of iron, folate, or vitamin B12, might mimic the appearance of burning mouth syndrome. However, there’s no need to panic: each human organism is unique, so there’s no guarantee your body will react to a particular vitamin deficiency with BMS.

Treatment

Before running to the nearest local pharmacy for a magical pill from glossalgia, you have to ensure that it is exactly BMS that causes you pain and discomfort. Remember: no matter how much your sensations resemble symptoms of burning mouth syndrome, there’s no place for self-treatment without a qualified pre-examination. 

The process of diagnosing BMS

1. See a highly trained oral specialist such as an experienced periodontist to diagnose whether you have BMS or other infection, mucosal disease, or dental pathology.
2. A qualified dentist will examine your mouth and may refer you to a colleague in oral medicine or oral surgery, as well as an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
3. You might require extra tests to check for certain medical problems, such as:

• Oral swab tests;
• Salivary flow test;
• Blood tests;
• Allergy tests;
• Tissue biopsy.

This might sound a bit overwhelming, but the right approach to defining BMS is half the job and a great investment into your oral cavity health, like professional teeth cleaning.

Treatment options

When you have burning mouth syndrome confirmed, your doctor may develop a helpful multidisciplinary approach to treat it. The methods can vary, depending on whether your glossalgia is primary or secondary. Your doctor can prescribe:

• medications to block neuropathic pain;
• oral rinses with lidocaine;
• antidepressants;
• saliva replacement products;
• talk therapy, if you have distress related to the condition, etc.

Is instant relief from burning mouth syndrome possible?

With a proper BMS treatment, you can get relief within days or weeks. Ask your healthcare provider about when you can expect to feel better. However, keep in mind that treatment of glossalgia is challenging, so what works for one patient might appear frustrating for another.

Prevention

When it comes to BMS prevention, you may reduce the risks by:

• giving up smoking;
• avoiding alcohol;
• ensuring that your dentures fit properly;
• taking care of other health conditions.

However, more research on glossalgia prevention is needed to prove the efficiency of these measures.

Managing Burning Mouth Syndrome: Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Now you know how to treat burning mouth syndrome, but still have the itch to relieve it with home remedies. Here are some:

1. Eating or drinking fluids and ice. This can help alleviate the pain of BMS, reduce the feeling of dry mouth, and temporarily mask bad tastes.
2. Avoid certain foods and drinks. Some foods can worsen burning mouth syndrome:

• acidic foods (citrus fruits, tomatoes);
• acidic drinks (coffee, soda, and citrus juice); 
• spicy foods;
• alcohol.

3. Renewing your dental health products. Flavored toothpaste, mouthwash containing alcohol, and scrubbing the tongue can sometimes irritate the mouth lining. Instead, try toothpaste for a sensitive mouth and alcohol-free mouthwash. 
4. Reduce stress. Be self-compassionate.
5. Seek support from specialists and other people with burning mouth syndrome.

Farewell, BMS!

Glossalgia is a chronic problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach for proper treatment. You can get some relief during the first days of taking corresponding measures, but any therapy for BMS requires at least several weeks to achieve maximum benefits. You can reduce discomfort by quitting harmful habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol and handling other health conditions, but only a qualified oral specialist can properly diagnose BMS and develop a suitable treatment plan for you. Don’t risk your health and address a doctor if you suspect you have glossalgia asap.

Burning Mouth Syndrome: The Most Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Resources

• Read the freshest study on the causes of burning mouth tongue syndrome by Bernard J. Hennessy, DDS, Texas A&M University, College of Dentistry.
• More on the home remedies for BMS treatment on the MedicalNewsToday portal.