Heartburn / Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS)
- Definition
- Persistent burning pain located superficially in the oral mucosa without an obvious explanation.
- Occurs daily (min. 2 hours) for more than 3 months.
- The condition is most prevalent in the age group 60+, most often in women.
2. Symptoms
- Burning or stabbing pain localized on the tongue, palate or inside of the lips.
- The pain typically increases during the day and is worst in the evening. They can be aggravated by stress, fatigue, tension and talking.
- Sensation of dry mouth and/or altered taste (bitter or metallic taste).
- Many patients also have sleep disorders, suffer from anxiety or depression.
3. Etiology
- The cause is not known.
- Due to damage to the nerve cells in the oral cavity. Other explanations can be psychological problems, hormonal disturbances, fungal infections etc.
4. Investigation
- The diagnosis requires the presence of long-lasting (min. 3 months), daily (min. 2 hours), burning pain in an otherwise normal-looking oral mucosa.
- Investigation will usually take place in collaboration with a doctor.
5. Treatment
- BMS is a benign condition and treatment focuses on alleviating the symptoms.
- The pain can be relieved by eating food (though not strongly spicy food), ice cream, cold drinks and lozenges.