Burning Mouth Syndrome

1. Who? Mostly post- menopausal woman. Men can be afflicted too.
2. Anatomy: Burning sensation of tip of tongue, gums, palate or cheek.
3. Progression: Begins upon awakening and becomes worse as the day progresses.
4. Saliva: Mouth feels drier.
5. Taste sensations: Patients complain of a metallic taste.
6. Taste alterations: The mouth becomes more sensitive to salt and spicy foods.
7. Emotions: Constant burning can create depression because of unremitting burning pain.
8. Cure: To date there is nothing available to completely reverse this process.
9. Management: There are medications available to depress the burning pain so that one’s life may be improved.
10. Tissue changes seen. None.