Burning mouth syndrome – a burning enigma

Abstract

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain condition characterized by an intraoral burning sensation and an absence of oral mucosal lesions and disturbances in laboratory findings. Burning symptoms usually affect the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, its lateral borders, hard palate and labial mucosa, but other oral cavity sites may also be affected. Taste alterations and a decrease in the salivary flow rate frequently accompany the burning symptoms. This condition mostly affects peri- and postmenopausal women. To date, the etiology of BMS remains unclear. This unknown etiology means that no appropriate treatment is currently available. A large number of the treatments and medications have been tried for BMS, but treatment management remains unsatisfactory in some patients. The purpose of this article is to present current knowledge on the treatment of BMS.

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS)—Treatment with Verbal and Written Information, B Vitamins, Probiotics, and Low-Level Laser Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by idiopathic burning or painful sensations of oral mucosa with clinically unchanged appearance. Despite numerous proposed definitions in the literature, there is still no universally accepted definition for BMS and no proper diagnostic criteria [1]. Two clinical forms of BMS were proposed by Scala et al, namely primary BMS, which is defined as burning sensation of the oral mucosa without any local or systemic causes, and secondary BMS, which may be a result of some local or systemic causes [2].…”