Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic painful, scalding sensation in the tongue, lips, palate, or throughout the mouth. BMS is most common is post menopausal middle-aged or older women. BMS is divided into 3 general types

Type 1 - Symptoms not present upon waking, then increase throughout the day
Type 2 - Symptoms upon waking and through the day (most common)
Type 3 - No regular pattern of symptoms (least common)

Synonyms: scalded mouth syndrome, burning tongue syndrome, burning lips syndrome, stomatodynia and glossodynia.

Symptoms

Dry Mouth
Sore mouth
Tingling or numbness on the tip of the tongue or in your mouth
Bitter or metallic changes in taste

Causes

Hormonal
Damage to the nerves that control taste and pain
Dry mouth
Nutritional deficiencies
Acid reflux
Poorly fitting dentures or allegies to dental materials
Anxiety or depression
Oral candidiasis, a fungal infection in the mouth
Fatigue
Upper respiratory tract infection

Diagnosis

Your doctor will review your medical history, do a complete oral examination and general medical examination which will include:

oral swab to check for a fungal infection in the mouth
blood work to look for infection, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders such as diabetes or thyroid problems
allergy testing for denture materials, certain foods, or other substances
Salivary measurements
Gastric reflux tests
Psychological questionnaires

Treatment Options

Depending on the cause of the BMS your doctor could recommend: