Burning mouth syndrome (BMS), a painful disorder affecting mostly women, is a constant and aggravating source of discomfort for more than 1 million adults. Patients experience a burning sensation in their mouth, palate, lips and tongue, as well as partial or complete loss of taste, dry mouth and thirst.

Anxiety and depression may be a precursor that triggers this difficult-to-diagnose syndrome, according to a report in the September/October 2003 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Oral habits of anxiety and depression may include repetitive tongue thrusting and bruxism (teeth grinding), which can irritate the mouth and lips and have been reported to cause BMS symptoms in up to 70 percent of patients suffering from this chronic disorder.

"Pinpointing the pain source can be a trying task for patients and their health care providers," explains Andres Pinto, DMD, lead report author, who states more females in their 20s and 30s are experiencing this syndrome, oftentimes due to stress. Other overall health conditions linked to BMS include anemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, undiagnosed diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and fungal infections in the mouth.

If you have BMS, analyze your overall health and note any life-altering events or stressors that occur," encourages AGD spokesperson Lois Duerst, DDS, FAGD. According to Dr. Pinto, some patients experience relief after stopping their oral habits brought on by stress.

•  Burning sensations in mouth area
•  Dry mouth
•  Altered taste perception
•  Changes in eating habits
•  Irritability
•  Depression
•  Changes in medication

•  Drinking more fluids
•  Medications that promote the flow of saliva
•  Antifungal therapy
•  Vitamin and mineral replacements
•  Creams or lozenges containing capsaicin (the natural chemical in cayenne pepper)
•  Hormonal replacement
•  Antidepressants
•  Mental health counseling
•  Intraoral appliances
•  Denture adjustment