| Burning Mouth Syndrome (Glossopyrosis, Glossodynia, Stomatopyrosis, Stomatodynia & Oral Dysæsthesia) |
What is Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS)?
The pain is typically described as burning. It is a persistent
and unremitting soreness without aggravating/relieving
factors.
It often lasts from months to years.
The intensity of the pain varies from slight to very severe.
Pain-killers seem to have little effect.
There is a bizarre pattern of pain radiation not consistent with
the anatomy of blood vessels or nerves. There is sometimes
an associated bitter or metallic taste or / and a dry mouth.
This is a common condition. It is not inherited nor is it
infectious.
What are its Causes?
Why BMS occurs is uncertain.
It seems to arise from a number of possible causes.
There is no visible abnormality or evidence of organic
disease.
BMS is associated with depression, anxiety or a stressful life-
situation.
Obsession with symptoms which may rule patient’s life.
Contributing factors may include:
The majority of BMS sufferers have experienced stressful life-
events / long-term social problems. After iron deficiency,
depression is thought to be the next most frequent causative
factor (depression followed by generalised anxiety &
cancerophobia).
Who does it affect?
Middle-aged or older women are mainly affected.
Do I need any special tests?
Yes. As BMS can be due to anæmia, this has to be
checked for first however, in a lot of cases, there is no
indication of anæmia.
How is it treated?
There is no treatment. Sometimes treatments for thrush can
ease the discomfort. If the BMS is due to anæmia, then
treatment of the anæmia will help; likewise, if the BMS is
related to diabetes.
Mostly though, it is treated as an atypical facial pain; that is,
with anti-depressants (though not at a dose where these
drugs are acting as anti-depressants). It has been found in
small studies, that a food supplement (alpha lipoic acid) has
been effective in treating BMS).
Patients often look for constant reassurance and treatment
by different practitioners.
Useful Website:
Go 4 Hope - Finding Answers for Burning Mouth Syndrome
National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics
Useful Articles:
J Am Dent Assoc 1995. Burning Issues in the Treatment of
Burning Mouth Syndrome - An Evidence-Based Study of the
Literature.
Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences.
Oral Medicine Clinic. Burning Mouth Syndrome, Patient
Information Sheet 2003.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2005.
Vulnerability and presenting symptoms in Burning Mouth
Syndrome.
BMJ Clinical Evidence 2008 Burning Mouth Syndrome
The pain is typically described as burning. It is a persistent
and unremitting soreness without aggravating/relieving
factors.
It often lasts from months to years.
The intensity of the pain varies from slight to very severe.
Pain-killers seem to have little effect.
There is a bizarre pattern of pain radiation not consistent with
the anatomy of blood vessels or nerves. There is sometimes
an associated bitter or metallic taste or / and a dry mouth.
This is a common condition. It is not inherited nor is it
infectious.
What are its Causes?
Why BMS occurs is uncertain.
It seems to arise from a number of possible causes.
There is no visible abnormality or evidence of organic
disease.
BMS is associated with depression, anxiety or a stressful life-
situation.
Obsession with symptoms which may rule patient’s life.
Contributing factors may include:
- Thrush infection (thought to be of minor importance)
- Bacterial infections (some antibiotics have been reported
to improve BMS) - Allergies (allergy to denture material)
- Jaw joint problems (thought to be one of the most
commonest causes) - Salivary gland dysfunction (severe dry mouth is thought
to be a major cause) - Deficiencies (in Iron, Folate & vitamin B)
- Hormonal (Diabetes Mellitus)
- Psychological & psycho-social factors seem to play an
important role in facial & oro-facial pain. - Psychogenic factors have been considered as the most
common & major causative factors in BMS.
The majority of BMS sufferers have experienced stressful life-
events / long-term social problems. After iron deficiency,
depression is thought to be the next most frequent causative
factor (depression followed by generalised anxiety &
cancerophobia).
Who does it affect?
Middle-aged or older women are mainly affected.
Do I need any special tests?
Yes. As BMS can be due to anæmia, this has to be
checked for first however, in a lot of cases, there is no
indication of anæmia.
How is it treated?
There is no treatment. Sometimes treatments for thrush can
ease the discomfort. If the BMS is due to anæmia, then
treatment of the anæmia will help; likewise, if the BMS is
related to diabetes.
Mostly though, it is treated as an atypical facial pain; that is,
with anti-depressants (though not at a dose where these
drugs are acting as anti-depressants). It has been found in
small studies, that a food supplement (alpha lipoic acid) has
been effective in treating BMS).
Patients often look for constant reassurance and treatment
by different practitioners.
Useful Website:
Go 4 Hope - Finding Answers for Burning Mouth Syndrome
National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics
Useful Articles:
J Am Dent Assoc 1995. Burning Issues in the Treatment of
Burning Mouth Syndrome - An Evidence-Based Study of the
Literature.
Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences.
Oral Medicine Clinic. Burning Mouth Syndrome, Patient
Information Sheet 2003.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2005.
Vulnerability and presenting symptoms in Burning Mouth
Syndrome.
BMJ Clinical Evidence 2008 Burning Mouth Syndrome
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