by Rana Williamson

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2009

For sufferers of burning mouth syndrome (BMS), the constant pain afflicting their lips and tongue (and at times the entire mouth) can be unbearable. They know their condition is real and chronic, but modern medicine, which has no verifiable explanation for why BMS occurs and no reliable cure, often dismisses the ailment as psychological in origin. Doctors can link BMS to known conditions like thrush, to various drug reactions, and even to ill-fitting dentures, but the only current treatment for BMS is to address underlying contributing conditions that may or may not be responsible for the burning. Consequently, many patients are left to deal with the impact of BMS in their lives literally for years.

Women Contract BMS More Often than Men

Women are more likely to be afflicted with BMS (also known as scaled mouth syndrome, glossodynia, and stomatodynia) although approximately four percent of adults in the United States have the condition. It normally comes on in middle age, initially presenting with a dry, itching sensation similar to that caused by drinking a hot liquid or food and scalding the mouth. In addition to the burning sensation, patients describe numbness at the tip of the tongue and a bitter, metallic taste. For some, the pain disappears after a good night's sleep and comes back during the day, while in other cases the pain is constant.

The Causes of BMS

More than a third of the people with BMS report multiple triggers for severe outbreaks of the condition. Some common causes include:

- Medications: Common culprits are antidepressants, antihistamines, and blood pressure medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors). Frequently when the medication is discontinued, the burning resolves.

- Thrush: Like medication-based reactions when the overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans in the mouth and throat is cured, the burning also goes away.

- Psychological: The emotional factors behind BMS are the least understood. In some instances the anxiety places stress on already damaged nerves and irritation results. Nerve damage can be caused by injury, by complications from a dental procedure, by poor diet, or by medications.

- Nutritional: Nutritional issues related to BMS include deficiencies in iron, zinc, and B vitamins (1, 2, 6, and 12). Food allergies, especially those related to food coloring, fragrances, and other additives have been directly linked to BMS, as has the acrid, bitter fluid that floods the mouth from acid reflux disease.

- Dentures: Poorly

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