General Description

BMS has various names such as scalded mouth syndrome, stomatodynia, glossodynia,  and others involving the specific area that hurts, but all are thought to be the same condition that affects all parts of the inside of your mouth, and sometimes also the lips. Most patients report that it feels like the burn from food that's too hot (temperature, not pepper). It often starts in adults in their 50s to 70s.

Causes

The exact causes of BMS are not known, but there are various remedies that can lessen or even stop the symptoms. Make sure to see a physician before trying to treat any symptom. It is defined as a neuropathic pain, caused by damage or change in nerve function. Research suggests that many nerve conditions are either caused or worsened by free radical damage, which means that antioxidants could play an important role in treating conditions that are nerve-related like BMS.

Traditional Treatments

Doctors often prescribe sedatives, antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs in conventional treatment, but more basic paths should be tried first.

Symptoms

• Pain in any part of the mouth, or several parts at the same time, including the whole mouth area, but most often the top of the mouth (called the hard palate)

• Dryness

• Sore throat

• Thirst

• Changes in taste, usually beginning with a metallic sensation; also some food can taste sour or bitter

• Trouble eating

• Numbness or tingling in the tongue

Possible Causes & Similar Conditions

It is important to realize that many of the symptoms can be caused by other conditions or problems, such as:

• Drug reactions or withdrawals, especially high blood pressure medications and antidepressants

• Yeast or viral infections (see our Tongue article), especially thrush, a type of yeast infection which causes pain in the mouth

• Acid reflux, which can reach your mouth especially at night when you're lying down

• Nutritional deficiencies especially of the B vitamins, iron and zinc

• High blood pressure, which can cause hormonal imbalance, but the symptom is usually just a burning tongue

• Menopause and other hormonal changes

• Nerve damage can also cause similar symptoms

• Badly fitting false teeth

• Recent dental work

• Diabetes

• Thyroid disorder, when underactive

• Stress and anxiety

• Food allergies

• Infections in the area of the mouth and upper respiratory system

• Chemotherapy

• Use of tobacco, either smoking or chewing

• Symptoms can mimic the dryness caused by Sjögren's syndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes dryness in the eyes and mouth, and can also affect internal organs

Tips

Use baking soda instead of commercial toothpaste, or try a hypo-allergenic toothpaste that doesn't have harsh cleaning agents

• Avoid acid foods

• Avoid heavily spiced foods, or all spices if possible

• Avoid mouthwashes and other chemical irritants

• Avoid tobacco products

• Reduce alcoholic consumption

Remedies

Doctors often prescribe sedatives, antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs in conventional treatment, but more basic paths should be tried first.

B vitamins Try supplements of B vitamins, zinc and iron. Many patients report that B vitamins were the most helpful, with many claiming a cure within a week

Lipoic acid, a fatty acid that contains sulfur with strong antioxidant properties because it is soluble in both water and fatty tissue, has been suggested as a possible treatment

St. John's wort has also been suggested for treatment based on its use as an antidepressant, but be warned that St. John's wort reacts seriously with many medications and should not be used without first consulting a physician

Toothpaste Use baking soda instead of commercial toothpaste, or try a hypo-allergenic toothpaste that doesn't have harsh cleaning agents