Burning tongue is also known as burning mouth syndrome (BMS), glossodynia, glossopyrosis, oral galvanism, stomatodynia and stomatopyrosis. The pain caused by burning tongue may be acute and may last for several days. It occurs mainly in middle aged people. Women are seven times more affected by this condition as compared to men. Hormonal imbalances that take place during the menopausal phase in a women’s life can cause burning tongue and mouth in many women. A burning tongue is usually accompanied by a painful burning feeling on the tongue either at the tip or the back and similar sensations in other parts of the mouth including the lips. Generally people who suffer from a burning tongue do not show visible lesions or signs in the mouth or on the tongue.

Burning tongue or burning mouth syndrome is a condition that is as little understood as it is common. The condition causes persistent pain and burning sensations in the mouth. This condition not only affects the tongue but other parts of the mouth as well. It could affect your lips, gums, tongue, and the insides of your cheeks, along with the roof and the base of the mouth as well as the throat. The pain is severe and sensation is similar to that you would experience from scalding your mouth.

While the symptoms of burning tongue are very clear, the causes of burning tongue syndrome are not always apparent or understood.

Symptoms for Burning Tongue

Some of the symptoms of burning tongue are as follows Dry mouth, Sore mouth, Thirst, Burning sensation in mouth, lips, palate, gums and tongue, Loss of taste, Numbness on the tip of the tongue, Metallic or bitter taste in the mouth. In most cases, this condition occurs along with other dental or oral problems such as dental carries, halitosis, and tooth decay. Burning mouth or tongue syndrome symptoms can be treated but it many cases it may not always be possible to determine the exact burning tongue symptoms.

Apart from these, a person may also experience extreme and persistent dryness in the mouth. The dryness causes you to drink water repeatedly with no relief. You may need to drink lots of water to keep the uncomfortable sensations at bay.

Middle aged women who have recently entered the menopausal stage of their life are most susceptible to this condition and in most cases burned tongue remedy methods and burning tongue treatment consist solely of alleviating the discomfort associated with the burning tongue syndrome symptoms.


 

Yeast Infection of the Mouth is the Main Reason

Although years of study and research have not found anything concrete, it is believed that yeast infections of the mouth are the main reason for the development of burning tongue. In addition some of the causes of burning tongue are hormonal imbalance during menopause, bad oral habits, medications, acid reflux, nerve damage, endocrine disorders, irritating dentures and deficiency of vitamin B12. Dry mouth and allergies are also connected to this condition but as of now their exact relationship is not understood. Of course, the sensations of a burnt mouth could be felt when you actually burn your mouth while sipping hot drinks or consuming scalding hot food. In these cases, burnt tongue remedies can help you.

There are also plenty of home remedies meant to specifically provide relief and can help relieve the symptoms of burning tongue syndrome. In cases where it is possible to identify the root causes of the problem it is important to use burning tongue syndrome remedies and burning tongue syndrome treatment methods to alleviate the discomfort, while medical attention can be sought to treat the root cause of the problem. For instance, if the condition is brought on by tooth decay, you will need to get appropriate treatment for the decayed tooth as well as use remedies to treat the problem of burning tongue syndrome.

Children rarely suffer from this problem and so it is likely that burning tongue syndrome symptoms in children are actually caused by other factors. Sore mouth and tongue pain in children may have serious underlying dental causes and so a definite diagnosis and treatment is necessary. It is important to understand burnt tongue syndrome and symptoms so that you can recognize the problem and seek treatment.

Although not horribly common, burning tongue syndrome may be caused due to psychological conditions as well. The mind and body connection is very strong, so when you are depressed or feeling anxious, you will feel your mouth going dry instantly. Sometimes, consuming very strong medications, especially those which are used in the treatment of chronic conditions or progressive degenerative conditions such as cancer, can also cause dryness of the mouth.

Ill-fitting dentures and nerve damage in the mouth are some of the other causes of burning tongue syndrome. A condition known as bruxism, in which the affected person grinds their teeth against each other, whether consciously or unconsciously, and excessive irritation in the mouth due to allergies or hot and spicy foods may also be associated with dry mouth and burning tongue.

Risk Factors

No burning tongue cure has ever been found, despite years of study and research that has been put into this. This caused researchers to study the risk factors that make some people more prone to developing this condition than others. There are not many risk factors associated with this condition, and most of the times, the condition occurs spontaneously, any time during a person’s lifetime.

Older women, who are close to their menopause, are more prone to developing this condition. Since hormones are often considered to be responsible for this condition and a woman experiences the severest hormonal changes during menopause, women close to menopause are the most susceptible to developing this condition. There are some people who are born with an anomalous tongue structure. The papillae, or the tiny taste buds in the tongue, are responsible for giving you the power of taste. Those having a tongue that is densely packed with taste buds are also more prone to developing various conditions of the mouth and the tongue.

Those who are prone to developing upper respiratory tract infections and those who have lots of food allergies are also known to be more prone to developing burning tongue syndrome. Sometimes, traumatic life events and stress may also trigger off burning tongue syndrome.

Complications

If burning mouth syndrome treatment is not received immediately, it is possible that there may be some complications. When the mouth is in distress, there may be a lot of problems in the mouth. Having a constantly burning and dry mouth may cause constant discomfort. It may cause you to have sleepless nights, as you would not be able to relax with the constant pain in your mouth. Apart from that, you may also feel a lot of stress, anxiety, and irritability. A lack of sleep can also have far reaching consequences. Your social life may take a severe beating. You may also have some problems concentrating at work, and your performance as well as your concentration may also begin to suffer.

Chew a Sugar Free Gum

For temporary relief from the symptoms, you can chew a sugar free gum or suck a piece of ice. You should also use baking soda instead of commercial tooth paste to brush your teeth. Some other remedies and steps that you can take are as follows.

Lightly crush a handful of mint leaves and add it to a small saucepan of boiling hot water. Allow the water to cool and then strain it and pour the liquid into a bottle and store it in your refrigerator. Have a few sips of this liquid twice or thrice a day to help soothe irritation and reduce any inflammation. Mint leaves have several therapeutic properties and so you can also rinse your mouth with this liquid before you go to bed to help control the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome. While mint-flavored rinses may be good for your mouth, doctors caution against chewing of mint leaves. Both mint and cinnamon are extremely harmful for this condition and may cause further complications.

You should also avoid acidic foods that can complicate the condition and cause severe discomfort. Also avoid drinking alcohol or chewing tobacco. Even smoking can aggravate the condition and cause complications. It is best to eat only fresh fruits and maintain good oral hygiene. Also avoid hot and spicy foods that cause pain and discomfort. Instead, consume juicy and citrus fruits as well as foods that cool your mouth and soothe the burning sensations. Maintaining a healthy diet is among the many burnt tongue remedies.

Margosa leaves have antibacterial properties and can be used to treat minor dental problems such as halitosis. Crush a handful of fresh margosa leaves into a paste and brush your teeth with this paste. Margosa leaves are slightly bitter and so this remedy may taste a little unpleasant. However, if halitosis has been determined to be the root cause of your problems with burning mouth syndrome, this remedy will go a long way in providing you with lasting relief.

Make sure that you rinse your mouth well to get rid of the bitter taste of this remedy. Do not use sugar, honey, or any other sweeteners to reduce or disguise the taste of this remedy as sugar can aggravate the problem and even lead to tooth decay.

Onions and garlic may have a strong smell but ironically they are excellent methods of treating halitosis and tooth problems. You would need to puree a piece of onion along with a few pods of garlic and then add the resultant paste to a glass of warm water. Gargle your mouth with this liquid once or twice a day to help prevent bad breath and treat the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome. This remedy can also be used to alleviate the burning sensation on your tongue, lips, and throat and is therefore an excellent burning tongue syndrome cure. This remedy will not only provide burnt tongue relief and reduce the feeling and sensation of pain but it will also help to heal any small wounds in your mouth.

Thyroid problems could also cause or aggravate this condition and so it is important to go in for tests to make sure that you are not suffering from a thyroid problem. Diabetes too can be a possible cause for burning mouth and tongue syndrome and so if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, make sure that you mention this to your dentist. If you have been lax in your treatment for diabetes, you will need to disclose this to your doctor as well and thus need to follow his/her instructions in order to control both your diabetes as well as the burning mouth syndrome symptoms. In many cases, people who were suffering from diabetes as well as burning mouth symptoms experienced a significant reduction in burning mouth syndrome symptoms once they started following a strict and regular treatment plan for diabetes. You will also need to follow a diabetes diet plan in order to experience long-term relief from this problem.

It is necessary that your dentures fit perfectly and if your dentures are ill-fitting it can cause a number of dental and oral problems including burning mouth and tongue syndrome. Make sure that you visit your dentist to make any adjustments to your dentures and do not try to make the adjustments yourself as this could damage your dentures and cause further irritation. If it is necessary, you may have to replace your dentures and make sure that you follow adequate cleansing practices to keep your dentures clean.

Certain types of medication may be the root cause of burning mouth syndrome and so it may be necessary to change your existing medication. It is vital that you consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication plan as self-medication can cause further problems. Make sure that you disclose any and all medication that you are on to your doctor as this will help him/her identify any possible problems and suggest alternative treatment plans. You will need to keep your doctor updated about any positive or negative symptoms and reactions so that he/she can decide if further adjustments are necessary.

Stress and anxiety have also been linked to burning mouth and tongue or burning lips and tongue syndrome. It is important to spend a certain amount of time in rest and relaxation on a daily basis in order to beat stress and prevent a myriad of health related problems including burning mouth syndrome.To beat stress and anxiety, you can also perform some calming exercises in yoga. Meditation and breathing exercises are both extremely effective in keeping your stress levels low.

Eat Vitamin B and Iron Rich Foods

As mentioned earlier, you should avoid hot and spicy foods as they may aggravate the condition. Choose to eat vitamin B and iron rich foods. It is recommended to avoid foods and oral hygiene products that you are allergic to, asthey may alsoaggravate the condition.

Suggestions for Burning Tongue

Simple lifestyle changes can be of great help in relieving the symptoms of burning tongue and mouth. It is advisable to drink more water so that the production of saliva increases, which in turn can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Lifestyle changes can be combined with alternative medicines and treatment options for getting the best results. Alternative medicines in the form of supplements, herbs and even practices like acupuncture can effectively help treat that burned tongue feeling. People suffering from burning tongue should try and eat more boiled vegetables and plain foods till the symptoms of this condition start subsiding. Boiled foods help in relieving the burning sensation faster.

Suggestions for Burning Tongue

It is best that you avoid chewing tobacco if you are suffering from burning tongue syndrome.