Overview of burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is an oral sensory disorder without a detectable cause; it is diagnosed when other conditions that can cause an oral burning sensation have been excluded. Burning mouth syndrome is more common in women, with the highest prevalence reported in women older than 70 years. The onset of burning mouth syndrome may be sudden following a specific event (eg dental treatment, a significant increase in personal stressors) or gradual and unrelated to any obvious event. Burning mouth syndrome is often poorly diagnosed and managed.

Although symptoms of burning mouth syndrome vary, the characteristic symptom is a burning sensation of the tongue and, less frequently, the coincident hard palate and mucosal aspect of the lips. Symptoms can cause minor inconvenience or, in severe cases, prevent patients from conducting normal daily activities. In extreme cases, patients may exhibit suicidal tendencies. Most commonly, the burning sensation is mild in the morning and increases in intensity as the day progresses; this presentation has the best prognosis.

Other signs and symptoms associated with burning mouth syndrome include:

• parafunctional habits (eg unconsciously rubbing the tongue against the adjacent teeth and the hard palate, which can cause traumatic abrasion of the filiform papillae on its dorsal surface)
• dry mouth
• halitosis
• dysgeusia (most commonly a metallic taste).