Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a condition that causes a burning sensation in the mouth. It can affect the tongue, gums, lips, inside of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth (palate), or large areas of the mouth. The burning sensation can be severe, like when you burn your mouth with a hot drink. In most cases, it is not possible to determine a specific cause for the occurrence of this disease, which makes the treatment process difficult

Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome

Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome may be:

• appear suddenly or gradually

• Create periodically and disappear or be permanent

• be mild, moderate or severe

• Get better when eating or drinking

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In most cases, burning mouth syndrome affects the tongue, but some people may also experience discomfort in other areas such as the lips, gums, throat, roof of the mouth, and inside the cheeks.. The common symptoms of this syndrome are:

• Burning sensation in the mouth

• Bitter or metallic taste in the mouth

• dry mouth

• Difficulty in swallowing

• Increasing thirst

• Loss of taste

Typically, mouth burning does not cause any significant physical changes to your tongue or mouth.

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Complications of burning mouth syndrome

Complications that burning mouth syndrome may cause or be associated with are:

• Difficulty falling asleep

• Difficulty eating

• Depression

• Anxiety

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Time to see a doctor

If you suffer from discomfort, pain or burning in the tip of the tongue or other areas of the tongue and mouth, see an ear, nose and throat doctor or a dentist.. Because tongue burning has different causes, they may refer you to another specialist.

For better communication, you can contact an ear, nose and throat specialist or online consultation with a dentist through online consultation.

Causes of mouth burning

The cause of burning mouth syndrome can be classified into 2 primary or secondary categories.

Primary burning mouth syndrome

When there are no detectable clinical or laboratory abnormalities, this disease is called "primary burning mouth syndrome" or "idiopathic" (no known cause)... Some studies have shown that the primary type of this disease is associated with taste problems and sensory neurosensory disorders of the peripheral or central nervous system.

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Secondary burning mouth syndrome

Sometimes, burning mouth is caused by an underlying disease, in which case it is called "secondary burning mouth syndrome". Problems and diseases related to secondary mouth burning include:

• Dry mouth which can be caused by various medications, diseases, salivary gland dysfunction or side effects of cancer treatment.

• Other oral diseases, such as a fungal infection of the mouth (thrush), the inflammatory disease oral lichen planus, or a condition called geographic tongue, which gives the tongue a map-like appearance.

• Dietary deficiencies, such as iron, zinc, folate (vitamin B9), thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiencies.

• Allergies or reactions to foods, food flavors or other food additives, fragrances, dyes or dental materials

• Gastric acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD), which causes stomach acid to enter the esophagus and mouth.

• Certain medications, especially blood pressure medications

• Oral habits,such as tongue thrusting, biting the tip of the tongue, and teeth grinding

• Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism

• Overstimulation of the mouth, which may be caused by brushing the tongue too much, using abrasive toothpaste, using too much mouthwash, or drinking too much acidic drinks.

• Psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression or stress

In general, the use of dentures, even if they do not fit well and cause mouth irritation, does not cause burning mouth syndrome, but it can worsen the symptoms.

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Risk factors for burning mouth

Burning mouth syndrome is a rare disease, but it is more common in women, especially in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women and people over 50 years old.. It usually starts spontaneously without any known trigger, but some factors may increase your risk, including:

• Some chronic medical disorders such as fibromyalgia (musculoskeletal pain syndrome), Parkinson's disease, autoimmune disorders and neuropathy (nerve damage)

• Dental programs

• Allergic reactions to food

• medicines

• Traumatic life events

• Stress, anxiety or depression

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Diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome

There is no test that can diagnose burning mouth syndrome... Usually, a doctor will try to rule out other diseases before diagnosing this syndrome.... After reviewing your medical history and medications, as well as an oral exam, your doctor or dentist may recommend some of the following diagnostic methods:

• Blood test: With a blood test, the number of blood cells, blood sugar level, thyroid gland function, nutritional factors and immune system function can be checked.

• Biopsy (sampling) or oral culture: Taking a sample from the mouth and analyzing the samples taken from it can help diagnose a fungal, bacterial or viral infection.

• Allergy testing: The doctor may recommend allergy testing to check for allergies to certain foods, additives, or even materials used in dentistry.

• Saliva measurement:Burning mouth syndrome may cause dry mouth. A saliva test can confirm if the flow of saliva has decreased.

• Gastric reflux test: This test helps to detect the return of stomach acid.

• Imaging: Your doctor may recommend an MRI, CT scan, or other imaging methods to check for other diseases.

• Medication Adjustment: If you are taking a medication that may cause mouth burning, your doctor will change the dose, substitute another medication, or, if possible, stop taking the medication temporarily to see if your discomfort goes away. Do not do this without consulting your doctor, as stopping some medications can be dangerous.

• Psychological Questionnaires: You may be asked to complete certain questionnaires to check for symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health problems.

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Treatment of burning mouth

The treatment of burning mouth syndrome depends on whether it is primary or secondary.

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Primary burning mouth syndrome

There is no known cure for primary burning mouth syndrome. Treatment depends on your symptoms and is aimed at controlling them. You may need to try several different treatments to find the best solution.. Treatment options usually include:

• Saliva substitute products

• mouth wash with special substances or lidocaine

• pain relievers

• Clonazepam anticonvulsant drug

• Some antidepressants

• Drugs that block nerve pain

• Cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with anxiety, depression and chronic pain

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Secondary burning mouth syndrome

Treatment for secondary burning mouth syndrome depends on the cause. For example, treating an oral infection or taking supplements to address nutritional deficiencies can relieve your discomfort.

home treatment of burning mouth syndrome

Many people can relieve heartburn with the help of home remedies:

• Take fluids and ice. Sometimes, mouth burning improves when you eat food or drink liquids.

• Avoid eating problematic foods and drinks... Acidic foods (tomatoes and citrus fruits), acidic drinks (citrus juice, soft drinks, and coffee), alcoholic drinks, spicy foods, and foods containing cinnamon or mint irritate the oral mucosa.

• Change your toothpaste and mouthwash... It is recommended to use toothpaste without essential oils for sensitive teeth and minimize the use of mouthwash.

• Don't smoke... Smoking irritates the sensitive skin inside the mouth.

• Reduce your stress... Stress, anxiety and depression make heartburn symptoms worse....If you are unable to manage your stress on your own, seek help from a mental health professional.

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Prevention of burning mouth syndrome

There is no known way to prevent burning mouth syndrome, but by avoiding tobacco, acidic foods, spicy foods, and carbonated beverages, as well as managing stress, you may be able to reduce the discomfort caused by the syndrome or prevent its symptoms from getting worse.

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Endword

Burning mouth syndrome is an annoying problem that is sometimes difficult to diagnose... Medical treatments, lifestyle modification and diet changes can help treat this condition... If you are suffering from burning mouth, you can consult the best online doctors and dentists at GCORP LLC during this visit or call them... disease, it will help to relieve its symptoms faster.

Sources: mayoclinic, medicalnewstoday

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