No Cure For Condition Causing Burning Mouth
Hot food's not to blame for Burning Mouth Syndrome, a condition estimated to affect up to 4 percent of American adults.
This condition, also called scalded mouth syndrome, causes chronic pain either throughout the mouth or on the lips, tongue and/or gums, yet there are often no visible signs of irritation. It affects women more often than men. Symptoms include a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, taste alterations, pain that intensifies as the day goes on and dry mouth.
The cause is sometimes unknown. When caused by a nutritional deficiency or other underlying medical condition, it's called secondary burning mouth syndrome. Such medical conditions include nerve damage, the taking of certain medications, hormonal imbalances and psychological factors.
For example, a 2001 report in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy tells of a 52-year-old woman who complained of burning mouth symptoms. She had been taking a drug for anxiety but was switched to clonazepam. That drug relieved her symptoms, but after four weeks of therapy, she reported an oral burning sensation. The dosage was reduced, and the symptoms decreased, but remained intolerable. When clonazepam was discontinued, the symptoms resolved.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for the syndrome. Options include supplements for nutritional deficiencies, medication to relieve dry mouth and control nerve damage, cognitive behavior therapy and rinses.
November 22, 2008
The Tampa Tribune
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