Burning Mouth Syndrome An Update 2010
Burning Mouth Syndrome An Update 2010
Burning Mouth Syndrome An Update 2010
Stomatodynia
doi:10.4317/medoral.15.e562
Correspondence:
Clnica Odontolgica Universitaria. Medicina Bucal
Hospital Morales Meseguer
Avda. Marques de los Velez s/n
30008 Murcia (Spain)
[email protected]
Received: 21/08/2009
Accepted: 28/11/2009
Abstract
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) refers to chronic orofacial pain, unaccompanied by mucosal lesions or other
evident clinical signs. It is observed principally in middle-aged patients and postmenopausal women. BMS is
characterized by an intense burning or stinging sensation, preferably on the tongue or in other areas of the oral
mucosa. It can be accompanied by other sensory disorders such as dry mouth or taste alterations. Probably of
multifactorial origin, and often idiopathic, with a still unknown etiopathogenesis in which local, systemic and
psychological factors are implicated. Currently there is no consensus on the diagnosis and classification of BMS.
This study reviews the literature on this syndrome, with special reference to the etiological factors that may be
involved and the clinical aspects they present. The diagnostic criteria that should be followed and the therapeutic
management are discussed with reference to the most recent studies.
Key words: Glossodynia, stomatodynia, etiopathogenesis, treatment, review.
Introduction
lateral borders), thus denominated glossodynia (painful tongue) and glossopyrosis (burning tongue) and
glossalgia; other terms used are stomatodynia, stomatopyrosis, oral dysesthesia and burning mouth syndrome.
The frequent association with other symptoms (xerostomia, taste alterations) and the complexity surrounding the condition of the patient means that some authors
prefer to use the expression burning mouth syndrome
(BMS) to refer to this entity. It is characterized by being continuous and spontaneous with an intense burning sensation reported by the patient as if the mouth or
tongue were scalded or burnt (7).
Various groups of investigators have attempted to pro-
Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS), is condition characterized by a sensation described by the patient as stinging, burning that affects the oral mucosa, in the absence
of clinical or laboratory data to justify these symptoms.
It as a chronic orofacial pain, unaccompanied by mucosal lesions or other evident clinical signs upon examination (1-12). The International Association for the
study of Pain defines it as a pain of at least 4-6 months
duration located on the tongue or other mucosal membranes in the absence of clinical or laboratory findings.
It has been defined principally by the quality or location
of the pain. The most affected area is the tongue (tip and
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Epidemiology
Etiopathogenesis
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Systemic factors
Systemic factors implicated in BMS; many of these are
deficiencies, such as vitamin deficiencies (in particular
low levels of vitamin B12, and others such as vitamin
B6, folic acid and vitamin C), and anemias. Furthermore, some studies suggest that BMS is associated with
low serum levels of zinc. Hormonal changes (reduced
plasma estrogens), diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism) and immunological diseases have
also been described. Many medications are intimately
related with burning mouth; among which are found antihistamines, neuroleptics, some antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics and benzodiazepines. Antihypertensives
are among the most frequently implicated medicines,
principally those that act on the renin-angiotensin system (captopril, enalapril and lisinopril).
Psychological factors
Studies exist that suggest that psychopathologic factors may play an important role in BMS and support the
multifactorial etiology, in which physical changes may
interact with psychological factors (1,7,14).
Many of these patients have symptoms of anxiety, depression and personality disorders, and it has been demonstrated that patients with burning mouth syndrome
have a greater tendency towards somatization and other
psychiatric symptoms.
Cancerphobia can be present in up to 20-30% of these
patients. A lower level of socialization and higher levels
of somatic anxiety have been observed, as well as muscular tension, a higher tendency to worry about health
and greater sadness. BMS is considered a chronic pain
disorder that adversely affects quality of life (8,15).
some authors question its importance. Other oral infections caused by bacteria such as Enterobacter, Klebsiella and S. Aureus have been found with high frequency
in patients with burning mouth. Helicobacter pylori has
also been isolated through oral mucosa biopsies and
molecular biology techniques in 86% of patients with
burning sensation and lingual hyperplasia and halitosis,
while it is detected in only 2.6% of the patients without
oral symptoms.
Xerostomia is a concomitant symptom in patients with
BMS, prevalence varying between 34 and 39% (7,8),
while Grushka et al. (13) find that this is equal to or
greater than 60%. In contrast, some authors consider
that the composition of the saliva could play a major
role in the pathogenesis of BMS, indicating the importance of the identification and characterization of low
molecular weight proteins. A significant increase has
been found in levels of sodium, total protein, lysozyme,
amylase and immunoglobulins in patients with BMS
when compared with a control group; however, other
studies do not support these findings.
In recent years investigations have been carried out into
the alterations in taste perception and tolerance to pain
as a possible cause of the burning sensation. Taste is
located fundamentally on the fungiform papillae, finding in certain patients with burning mouth, above all
women, an elevated number of said papillae, these individuals being denominated supertasters. This theory
proposes that certain people, labeled as supertasters due
to the high density of fungiform papillae present on the
anterior part of the tongue, are more susceptible to developing burning mouth pain. Supertasters are principally women, and are able to perceive the bitter taste of
a substance called PROP (6-n-propiltiouracilo) (4-8).
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Pathogenesis
tions are the oral mucosa, floor of the mouth, soft and
hard palate, and oropharynx. The location of the pain
does not seem to affect the course of the disease or the
response to treatment. In more than half the patients the
symptoms appear spontaneously with no identifiable
trigger factors. Approximately 17% to 33% of patients
attribute the initiation of the symptoms to a previous
condition, such as infection of the upper respiratory airway, dental procedure, or the use of medications. Other
patients relate the appearance of symptoms directly
with stress (7,9).
The oral burning sensation usually increases progressively during the day, reaching a maximum intensity at
the end of the afternoon / early evening, pain being absent during the night in the majority of patients. Patients
do not normally awaken during the night, but do find
it difficult to get to sleep. These patients often present
mood changes, including irritability, anxiety and depression. The majority of studies describe the coexistence of oral burning with other symptoms, such as dry
mouth, dysgeusias, metallic taste, bitter taste or combinations thereof, and/or changes in intensity of taste
perception. In addition, dysphagia and atypical facial
or dental pain may appear. Experience shows that what
the patient defines as oral burning can be identified
by diverse sensations. Although the burning or stinging
sensation can exist alone, other disorders of oral perception may appear, either alternatively or simultaneously, such as pruritus, roughness, sticky sensation,
dysphagia, stinging, burning, irritation of the lingual
papillae, metallic taste and other dysgeusias, sensation
of bad breath, intolerance to prostheses that would include an infinity of subjective perceptions difficult to
describe (Table 1).
Pain
Clinical Aspects
Description
Burning
Intensity
Pattern
Continuous, no paroxysm
Location
Infrequent
Other symptoms
Signs /symptoms
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sible oral lesions, and is therefore a diagnosis of exclusion of other possible diseases. Other systemic diseases
that can manifest symptoms similar to BMS should be
considered: Sjgrens syndrome, diabetes, candidiasis,
deficiencies of iron, folate, zinc or group B. vitamins. It
is essential to obtain the medical, dental and psychological history of the patients; also to quantify the pain on
a visual analogue scale and to note the symptoms, duration, location and chronology and temporal relationship
(burning/pain), if accompanied by xerostomia and taste
alteration, if alleviated or aggravated by foods, and any
precipitating factors. Special attention should be paid
to the use of medication that can produce xerostomia,
the presence of parafunctional habits, and the clinical
history should provide information on prior or current
psychological and psychosocial stress factors (4,7,16).
An oral and extraoral examination should be made to
discard lesions such as erythema, erosions, depapillated
tongue. The oral cavity should not present any anomalies such as inflammation or atrophy of the mucosa in
order to establish a diagnosis of BMS.
Possible dental problems should be ruled out, reviewing
any prostheses and their occlusion, any probable oral
galvanism and volumetric tests of saliva flow should be
made (Table 2).
Complimentary examinations include analytical studies,
hemogram, glucemia, iron, serumal ferritin, folates, vitamin B12, zinc, serumal antibodies in Sjgrens syndrome and against H. pylori; culture for the detection of
candida, taken from the oral mucosa and palate.
Diagnosis
Oral
examination
Salivary
Parameters
Hematologic
Parameters
Nutritional
Parameters
Hormonal
Parameters
Medication
ParafuncContact
tional Habits Allergies
Treatment of secondary forms: monitor infection candida albicans, manage medication (antihypertensives renin-angiotensin
system), treat xerostomia, allergies, nutritional deficiencies, endocrine disorders
Topical treatment
Clonazepam
Lidocaine
Capsaicin
Benzydamine hydrochlorate at 0.15%
Systemic treatment:
Nortriptyline
Amitriptyline
Paroxetine
Clonazepam
Gabapentin
Capsaicin
Alfa lipoic acid
Cognitive therapy
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Epicutaneous tests are made on patients presenting intermittent symptoms (metals and other allergens used in
dental prostheses, foods, additives).
The diagnosis is usually late (mean 34 months), often
due to a lack of understanding of the nature of this entity, in addition to the patients taking up many health
resources, since they frequently consult various specialists. It is important to highlight that the diagnosis
of BMS should be established only when all other possible causes have been discounted, being a diagnosis by
elimination.
Treatment
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References
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