Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is a burning, tingling, or scalding sensation in the mouth lasting at least four to six months with no dental or medical cause found on examination; the tissue looks entirely normal even though the person may also notice dryness or an altered sense of taste or smell. About half of cases have no identifiable cause, and proposed explanations include hormonal changes such as declining estrogen and progesterone, autoimmune factors, nerve damage, changes in saliva composition, and psychological factors such as anxiety or depression. It is also known by several older names, including glossodynia, glossopyrosis, and burning tongue syndrome, and falls under the specialty of oral medicine.