If you take a mouthful of tea and feel pain because you haven’t let it cool down enough, you might pull a face and then, when the discomfort returns to normal, simply get on with your day. For sufferers of Burning Mouth Syndrome, they experience a pain like this but one which doesn’t go away or offers only temporary relief.
There are often no obvious visible signs of any problems though. No swelling, redness or sore patches that are visible. This can be worrying and frustrating too.
If your mouth is troubling you in this way, it may be something that our dentists at the Smile Dental Practice can help with?
Often shortened to BMS, burning mouth syndrome describes a persistent burning or scalded feeling inside the oral cavity when there isn't an obvious cause for it. The tongue is likely to be affected, but it can affect any of the soft tissues there too. It may not be the same for everyone. Some people experience relatively mild discomfort, while for others, it is much more painful. Some also experience a change in taste, with food sometimes seeming bitter or metallic. The mouth may also feel dry when it actually is not.
The problem may be persistent or intermittent and can affect eating, speaking and sleep which can make it a genuine problem for many sufferers.
It can be very hard to detect what has caused this problem. It does tend to happen more as we become older and changes that affect the hormone balance, such as the menopause, may be a factor in this.
Some other possible causes might be that a dry mouth is caused by medication you are taking, oral thrush, toothpaste irritation, and some mouthwashes can cause this too. Some mineral deficiencies including B12, could also be responsible as could some health conditions.
If you have BMS but feel that your teeth and gums are in good condition, there is little point in seeing the dentist, but in fact, this is very likely the best place to start. Having a dental examination can be a very useful starting point in identifying this problem.
Our dentists can check for oral infections, irritation of the lining of the mouth as well as other problems that dentists are familiar with. They will also ask questions about when it started, any triggers etc. In some cases, this can lead to a straightforward treatment that can resolve the problem. Alternatively, they may refer you to your GP for further investigation.
Having BMS can not only be painful but very frustrating too. There may be no simple ways to prevent it from happening and it may be that managing the symptoms is the best approach to take. It is certainly worth looking at eliminating things that you think could be causing it to see which helps. Things like hot curries, citrus fruits, alcohol, hot drinks or strongly flavoured toothpastes may be strong candidates for this. If you eliminate one at a time, you may be able to identify the triggers and adjust accordingly.
Your dentist may be able to help with this and suggest more gentle toothpastes or mouthwashes that might help. They may even suggest not using a mouthwash at all as these are sometimes used unnecessarily.
Where a dry mouth exists, you should try to increase the amount of water that you drink, along with increasing the frequency.
Whatever the reason for this painful problem, you certainly should not just put up with it, especially if it is affecting your life on a day to day basis.
Start by seeing one of our dentists. This can help to eliminate some obvious causes and they may be able to put you on the right path to easing the discomfort and providing some immediate relief. If your tongue or mouth has been burning for weeks, don’t put it off any longer. It may take some time to discover what is causing it and make appropriate changes. As oral health care providers, dentists are the best place to start. You can book an appointment to see one of ours by calling the Smile Dental Practice in Croydon on 020 8649 7911.
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