Causes and Symptoms of Burning Mouth Syndrome

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Causes and Symptoms of Burning Mouth Syndrome
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When the cause of burning mouth syndrome isn't known, the condition is called primary or idiopathic burning mouth syndrome. Sometimes burning mouth syndrome is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as a nutritional deficiency. In these cases, it's called secondary burning mouth syndrome.

Some research suggests that primary burning mouth syndrome is related to problems with taste and sensory nerves of the peripheral or central nervous system. Secondary burning mouth syndrome is a symptom of one or more underlying medical problems. Underlying problems that may be linked to secondary burning mouth syndrome include:

* Dry mouth (xerostomia), which can be caused by various medications or health problems.
* Other oral conditions, such as oral yeast infection (thrush), oral lichen planus and geographic tongue.
* Psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression or excessive health worries.
* Nutritional deficiencies, such as lack of iron, zinc, folate (vitamin B-9), thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin (vitamin B-2), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and cobalamin (vitamin B-12).
* Dentures. Dentures can place stress on some of the muscles and tissues of your mouth, causing mouth pain. The materials used in dentures also can irritate the tissues in your mouth.
* Nerve damage to nerves that control taste and pain in the tongue.
* Allergies or reactions to foods, food flavorings, other food additives, fragrances, dyes or other substances.
* Reflux of stomach acid (gastroesophageal reflux disease) that enters your mouth from your upper gastrointestinal tract.
* Certain medications, particularly high blood pressure medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
* Oral habits, such as tongue thrusting and teeth grinding (bruxism).
* Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
* Hormonal imbalances, such as those associated with menopause.
* Excessive mouth irritation, which may result from overbrushing of your tongue, overuse of mouthwashes or having too many acidic drinks.


Symptoms of burning mouth syndrome include:

* A burning sensation that may affect your tongue, lips, gums, palate, throat or whole mouth
* A tingling or numb sensation in your mouth or on the tip of your tongue
* Mouth pain that worsens as the day progresses
* A sensation of dry mouth
* Increased thirst
* Sore mouth
* Loss of taste
* Taste changes, such as a bitter or metallic taste

The pain from burning mouth syndrome typically has several different patterns. It may occur every day, with little pain when you wake but becoming worse as the day progresses. Or it may start as soon as you wake up and last all day. Or pain may come and go, and you may even have some entirely pain-free days.

Whatever pattern of mouth pain you have, burning mouth syndrome symptoms often last for years before proper diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, though, symptoms may suddenly go away on their own or become less frequent. Burning mouth syndrome usually doesn't cause any noticeable physical changes to your tongue or mouth.

When to see a doctor
If you have pain or soreness of your tongue, lips, gums or other areas of your mouth, see your doctor or dentist as soon as possible. They may need to work together to help pinpoint a cause and develop an effective treatment plan.

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