Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome in most cases is a chronic and difficult-to-treat problem, which is featured by burning of oral cavity surface without any specific damage.

Every adult person for once in his life burned his tongue or palate with hot tea or coffee. These are pretty vexing feelings that can last from several hours to several days. But certain people suffer from similar symptoms constantly, day by day.

What is Burning Mouth Syndrome

This disease is known as burning mouth syndrome ( BMS ). According to name, it manifests by burning sensation that comes up oftentimes in the mouth, increases in the inner side of cheeks, gums and even larynx. Those signs also are a slight itch at the apex of tongue, dryness or ache of mouth cavity, sour and metallic taste. This state is a type of neuropathy that affects the nerve fibers and doesn’t have an inflammatory process. Scientists compare this syndrome with a short circuit of the neural system, as a result of which cerebrum (brain) cannot turn off the pain receptors that continuously send signals about an ache and tingling. The base of this illness could be different:

• damage to the nerves controlling taste buds;
• hormonal changes;
• stress or depression;
• problems with the immune system, etc.

Burning Mouth Syndrome Diagnosis

Diagnosis of glossodynia (another name of BMS) is carried out by several stages and with involvement of many specialists because it’s required to avoid other diseases of the oral cavity. This disease can emerge due to the anaemia (poverty of blood), diabetes, deficiency of certain minerals and trace elements, as well as diseases of the thyroid gland. And occasionally, can cover at the same time several reasons. When diagnosing, the dentist will carefully look out mouth cavity trying to discover the cause. He will also take a look at your health card and could advise you an additional examination. You may be assigned tests for infections, nutritional deficit or other health issues. One of the recommendations will be the passage of an allergic checking test, which is carried out by a dermatologist. Burning mouth syndrome treatment depends on certain features that caused the formation and spread of the disease.

If this syndrome is caused by malnutrition, the dentist may prescribe nutritive supplement. If needed, it’s possible to correct or change poorly fitting dentures or assign medication to treat a fungus contagion in the mouth. If the cause occurred because of depression and stress, then sedative will be prescribed by a doctor to resolve the emotional and psychological state. The doctor explores as well as treats related diseases of the digestive, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. If necessary, the specialist prescribes vitamin, vasodilator and antihistamine medications.

Doctors cannot unequivocally answer the question of how you get burning mouth syndrome. Both men and women are subject to this disease, although females are at bigger risk. To diagnose a problem, you should consult your dentist. Perhaps this is the primary form of the syndrome. In this case, you only need to adhere to the following rules:

• Avoid severe stress;
• Change toothpaste and mouth rinse more often;
• Refuse spicy and sour foods, smoking;
• If symptoms appear, drink more refrigerated fluid.

If you have a secondary form of a syndrome, then it will pass with the leading disease after the diagnosis and the required course of treatment.

In conclusion, one should keep in mind that burning mouth syndrome is a problem that lies in various medical fields: neurology, dentistry, general medical practice. Despite the problem of classifying a given disease, there are many ways to treat and relieve the patient’s condition. Therefore, if you find out that you have features that indicate BMS - do not be afraid to seek the necessary advice.