What is Burning mouth syndrome?

Burning mouth syndrome

What is burning mouth syndrome?

If you have burning mouth syndrome, your mouth feels sore most of the time, as though it's burning.

You may have the feeling in your tongue, your lips, your gums and the inside of your cheeks. People often describe it as feeling like they've scalded their mouth on a hot drink.

Source:
Zakrzewska JM.
The burning mouth syndrome remains an enigma.
Pain. 1995; 62: 253-257.

Your doctor will diagnose burning mouth syndrome only after checking that there's not another reason for the pain. These are some other reasons why your mouth may feel sore:

Source:
Zakrzewska JM.
The burning mouth syndrome remains an enigma.
Pain. 1995; 62: 253-257.

Your doctor will examine your mouth to check that your symptoms aren't caused by another condition.

You have a mouth

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

infection
You have an

allergic reaction
You have an allergic reaction when your immune system reacts to something outside your body that is normally harmless. You can be allergic to particles in the air, like pollen, which causes hay fever, or to chemicals, like detergents, which can cause a rash. People can also have an allergic reaction to drugs, like penicillin.

allergic reaction
You have a reaction to a drug that you are taking for another illness
You're wearing poorly fitting dentures (false teeth)
You have a dry mouth because you don't have enough saliva (spit).

If you've been diagnosed as having burning mouth syndrome, it means that your mouth is normal apart from the burning feeling. Some people with burning mouth syndrome are worried that it may be a sign of something serious such as cancer. But before your doctor diagnoses burning mouth syndrome, they will check that it's not cancer, or any other disease.

We don't know for sure why burning mouth syndrome happens. It may be because the nerve endings in your mouth, which allow you to taste and feel, are more sensitive than normal.

Source:
Svensson P, Bjerring P, Arendt-Nielsen L, et al.
Sensory and pain thresholds to orofacial argon laser stimulation in patients with chronic burning mouth syndrome.
Clinical Journal of Pain. 1993; 9: 207-215.

Source:
Jaaskelainen SK, Forssell H, Tenovuo O.
Abnormalities of the blink reflex in burning mouth syndrome.
Pain. 1997; 73: 455-460.

Source:
Forssell H, Jaaskelainen S, Tenovuo O, et al.
Sensory dysfunction in burning mouth syndrome.
Pain. 2002; 99: 41-47.

⁴

Your chances of getting burning mouth syndrome are higher if:

Source:
Bergdahl M, Bergdahl J.
Burning mouth syndrome: prevalence and associated factors.
Journal of Oral and Pathological Medicine. 1999; 28: 350-354.

⁵

You're anxious or depressed
You've been having a lot of stress
You're a woman who has reached

menopause
When a woman stops having periods, it is called menopause. This usually happens around the age of 50.

menopause.

Sources for the information on this page:

Zakrzewska JM.The burning mouth syndrome remains an enigma.Pain. 1995; 62: 253-257.

Svensson P, Bjerring P, Arendt-Nielsen L, et al.Sensory and pain thresholds to orofacial argon laser stimulation in patients with chronic burning mouth syndrome.Clinical Journal of Pain. 1993; 9: 207-215.

Jaaskelainen SK, Forssell H, Tenovuo O.Abnormalities of the blink reflex in burning mouth syndrome.Pain. 1997; 73: 455-460.

Forssell H, Jaaskelainen S, Tenovuo O, et al.Sensory dysfunction in burning mouth syndrome.Pain. 2002; 99: 41-47.

Bergdahl M, Bergdahl J.Burning mouth syndrome: prevalence and associated factors.Journal of Oral and Pathological Medicine. 1999; 28: 350-354.

This information was last updated on Feb 05, 2009

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