Burning Mouth Syndrome
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Burning Mouth Syndrome Treatment
Burning mouth syndrome is described as a painful or burning sensation in the tongue, lips, or palate which leads to an overall discomfort in the mouth without any underlying medical or dental reasons.
There are two types of BMS- primary BMS and secondary BMS. Primary BMS is diagnosed when there is no identifiable illness responsible for the condition. Secondary BMS occurs as a result of other health conditions and the reasons are identifiable.
- Symptoms of Burning Mouth Syndrome
- The symptoms of burning mouth syndrome vary from person to person in its nature and severity. It can last for a longer period of time in some people. Some of the common symptoms are:
- A pain in the mouth characterized by burning or scalding sensation
- A feeling of numbness or tingling in the mouth
- Altered taste in the mouth
- Dry mouth
- Causes of Burning Mouth Syndrome
The common reasons for secondary BMS are:
Allergic reaction to certain foods or dental-work substances
- Endocrine disorders like hyperthyroidism, diabetes etc
- Nutritional deficiency like lack of zinc, iron, Vitamin B12, etc.
- Acid reflux
- Psychological issues like depression, anxiety, stress etc.
- Hormonal changes due to menopause or other factors
- Side-effects of medications, especially those taken for hypertension
- Certain oral habits like bruxism, overuse of mouth-washes, overbrushing the tongue etc.
- Infection in the mouth
- Treatments for diseases like cancer
- Burning Mouth Syndrome Treatment
To get relief from secondary BMS, it is necessary to treat the underlying health condition. If it is primary BMS, it will resolve on its own. However, the following methods are helpful to get relief from the discomforts caused by BMS.
Sip cold drinks throughout the day to bring down the burning sensation
- Suck ice chips to control burning feeling
- Say no to alcoholic beverages and smoking
- Avoid excessive stress and practice relaxation techniques
- Use a toothpaste that is ideal for sensitive mouth
- Avoid carbonated beverages, spicy and acidic foods, tobacco etc.
- Avoid acidic fruits like orange, lemon, etc.