What are the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome?

/Home/Screening and Diagnosing Burning Mouth Syndrome/Signs and Symptoms of BMS

What are the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome?
BMJ Group, Thursday 5 February 2009 00.00 GMT

The main symptom is a hot, sore or burning feeling in your mouth.

You may also find that:[1] [2]

* Your mouth feels too dry
* You get a tingling feeling in your mouth
* Things taste different from usual, or you have a nasty taste in your mouth.

The pain may get worse as the day wears on, and you might find it hard falling asleep.

Your doctor will only diagnose burning mouth syndrome if you've had these symptoms for several months, and they happen most days.[3] To make sure there's not another reason for your symptoms, your doctor will examine your mouth and ask about your general health and state of mind. You may also need some tests.[3]

* You may have blood tests to rule out anaemia (when you don't have enough red blood cells in your blood) or vitamin deficiencies.
* You may have tests to see if you're allergic to something that could be causing the soreness. Your doctor will probably do these tests if you've had other allergic reactions. You may need to wear a patch inside your mouth for a few days.

You may be asked to have a check-up with your dentist and may be referred to a doctor who specialises in diseases of the mouth (a consultant in orofacial medicine).

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2009