Burning Mouth / Burning Tongue Syndrome

/Home/Complications of Burning Mouth Syndrome/Burning Mouth Syndrome and Menopause/Causes of Burning Mouth Syndrome and Menopause

Burning Mouth / Burning Tongue Syndrome

What are the Causes of Burning Tongue / Mouth Syndrome?

Burning mouth syndrome may have more than one cause, within a wide range of medical and dental conditions. But for many cases, the exact cause of their symptoms cannot be found.

Possible causes of burning mouth syndrome, include :

Dry mouth syndrome, caused by medications, alcohol and tobacco use, aging.
Oral thrush, an infection that occurs when the chemical balance of the body is disrupted and the fungus Candida albicans grows out of control.
Stress / anxiety and depression can also trigger a burning mouth condition.
Nutritional issues, like deficiencies in iron, zinc, B12, folic acid, and B-complex vitamins

Food Allergies. Sensitivities to certain foods, food flavorings, food additives, fragrances, dyes or other substances.

Dentures. Poorly fitting dentures that damage the surface of the mouth’s tissues or sensitivity to their material are common burning mouth causes.

Blood pressure medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), cause burning mouth as a side effect.

Hormonal imbalances especially during menopause - Fluctuations in hormones levels and the resulting change in the composition of the saliva cause inflammation in the mouth.

Acid (gastroesophageal) Reflux Disease. Acidic fluids related to the reflux action may cause irritation and pain.

Nerve damage (neuropathy). Damage to nerves that control taste and pain in the tongue may also result in a burning sensation on tongue.

Endocrine disorders. High blood sugar levels that occur with conditions such as diabetes and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) that alter the chemical balance of the mouth, are also identified as possible causes of burning tongue.

Burning mouth and tongue syndrome is not directly related to any serious condition, such as oral cancer or AIDS. Furthermore it is not contagious, it can’t be passed from one person to another.

created by Abyss Design ©1998-2009 , Last Update: 21/03/2009