General Dentistry

Burning mouth syndrome affects middle-aged women

More than 1 million adults in North America, mostly women in post-menopausal years, are affected by a poorly understood and difficult to diagnose condition known as Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). The chronic disorder is characterized by pain and a burning sensation in the lips, palate and tongue. It is sometimes accompanied by dry mouth, thirst, altered taste perception, changes in eating habits, irritability, depression and reduced desire to socialize and interact with others.

It is critical to make sure these symptoms are not due to a more serious condition, such as anemia, leukemia, severe vitamin deficiency, undiagnosed diabetes, or a yeast or candida infection of the mouth. Check with your doctor first, and if a cause cannot be identified, consult us next.

For mild cases, chewing gum, sugarless mints or frequent drinks of water relieve the discomfort of dry mouth. Second, anti-fungal medications sometimes provide relief, even when there are no visible signs of a yeast infection in the mouth.

There has been success for some people who use capsaicin, the natural chemical in cayenne pepper. Patients can have a pharmacy make up lozenges containing it, or it is available in a prescription cream which can be used on the tongue or under the denture. While it may be uncomfortable for the first couple of days, it is often found effective with continued use. Some experts think the chemical simply distracts the patient's attention from the original pain, while others believe it actually alters the nerves sufficiently to decrease pain perception.

Other medications used to treat the disorder include antibacterials, analgesics, vitamin and mineral replacements, benzodiazepines, antihistamines and anti-depressants. It is also thought that hormonal replacement may be another option.

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