What is Burning Mouth Syndrome?
Burning mouth syndrome is also termed as glossodynia, orodynia, oral dysaesthesia, glossopyrosis, stomatodynia. A burning tongue or sore mouth is a complaint of burning sensation in the mouth where no underlying dental or medical cause can be identified and no oral signs are found.
Burning mouth syndrome is a painful, frustrating condition often described as a scalding sensation in the tongue, lips, palate or throughout the mouth.
Women are 3-7 times more likely than men of a similar age to experience burning mouth syndrome.
It is very rare to find symptoms of burning mouth syndrome in patients of the younger age that is younger than 30 years of age. The prevalence of burning mouth syndrome may increase from 3- 12fold with increasing age.
No racial predilections are seen in cases of burning mouth syndrome
What are the causes of burning mouth syndrome?
There are different factors:-
•Deficiency of folic acid, iron or various B vitamins (glossitis e.g. due to anemia).
•Hypothyroidism
•Neuropathy
•Medications, protease inhibitors, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors.
•Type 2 diabetes
•True xerostomia
•Parafunctional activity example nocturnal bruxism, tongue thrusting habit.
•Restriction of the tongue by poorly constructed dentures.
•Oral candidiasis
•Herpetic infections
•Fissured tongue
•Lichen planus
•Allergies and contact sensitivities to food, metals and other substances.
•Hiatus hernia
•Human immunodeficiency virus
•Geographic tongue.
How do diagnose Burning Mouth Syndrome?
Moderate to severe burning in the mouth is the main symptom of BMS and can persist for months and years.
Anxiety and depression are common symptoms and may result from their chronic pain.
Other symptoms of burning mouth syndrome are as follows
•Tingling and numbness on the tip of the tongue or in the mouth.
•Bitter or metallic changes in taste
•Dry and sore mouth.
How to investigate burning mouth syndrome?
There is no laboratory test which can help to diagnose burning mouth syndrome but the patient history and examination may indicate the need for any of the following studies:
•Serum ferritin
•Serum blood glucose
•Urine analysis of glucose
•TSH
•T4
•Thyroid binding globulin
•Antithyroglobulin antibodies
•Antithyroperoxidase antibodies
•Serum folate
•CBC count
•Serum B vitamin levels
•LH
•Antimicrobial antibodies
•FSH
•ESR
•RF
•ANA
• Anti-SS-A, anti-SS-Ro, anti-SS-B, anti-SS-La antibodies
Is burning mouth syndrome cancerous?
No, Burning mouth syndrome is benign (importantly, it is not a symptom of oral cancer), but as a cause of chronic pain which is poorly managed, it can disturb the quality of life, thus interfering with work and other daily activities.
What is commonly indicated homoeopathy medicine helps in burning mouth syndrome?
- Arum triphyllum
- Borax
- Natrum muriaticum
- Sulphur
- Phosphorus
