Glossodynia: Burning Mouth Syndrome
You feel your mouth burning and you don’t know why. Well, this feeling is normal in certain circumstances – such as immediately after eating spicy food. However, glosodynia or burning mouth syndrome is a chronic problem for some people, and the reasons for its occurrence are not obvious.
The medical term for this symptom is glossodynia, but most know it as burning mouth syndrome. Estimates indicate that glossosinia affects about 5-10% of the population. It is a very uncomfortable pathology for patients, because the burning sensation spreads throughout the mouth.
This syndrome is not yet fully known; however, we know that it may be related to certain pathological conditions. Thus, glossodynia could be a sign of a deficiency of certain vitamins or an allergic reaction.
In today’s article, we will explain the reason behind the appearance of burning mouth syndrome and its causes. We will also talk about possible treatment options.
What is burning mouth syndrome?
Why does your mouth burn continuously?
As mentioned above, it is normal to have a burning sensation in your mouth under certain circumstances (for example, after eating spicy food). But this is a localized situation, easy to identify and self-resolving.
People who experience burning in the mouth for no apparent reason and for a long time may have burning mouth syndrome. As I said, this syndrome produces a burning sensation that spreads throughout the tongue and in any other area of the mouth.
In addition, a person with this condition may experience a decline in the sense of taste. Burns can also be accompanied by numbness and dryness. In general, burns occur every day, although they worsen when the evening arrives. Burning mouth syndrome can be chronic or intermittent, depending on the case.
The reasons why some people experience burning mouth syndrome are divided into primary and secondary. The condition is considered primary when all causes can be ruled out – as in the case of other pathologies.
The syndrome is also considered secondary when there is another disease or condition that causes it – the use of certain drugs, for example. Many medications dry out your mouth and you may feel a burning sensation. In addition, there are other causes, such as:
- Fungal infections, such as oral candidiasis
- Certain vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency
- Inefficient oral cleansing habits. In fact, some tongue brushes and mouthwashes can be very aggressive and can cause burns.
- Some metabolic diseases and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The latter occurs because the acid content of the stomach reaches the mouth. Because gastric juices are acidic, they irritate the oral mucosa.
Conclusion
