Burning mouth syndrome

Abstract

The burning tongue describes a phenomenon, which is known as burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in the literature. Patients often have high levels of psychological strain also because they are not taken seriously leading to high direct and indirect costs for the healthcare system. The primary BMS is due to a peripheral or central neuropathy. The secondary BMS can be associated with different endocrinologic, gastrointestinal, urogenital, neurologic or psychiatric disorders, oral infections, dental treatments, drugs, vitamin and micronutrient deficits or nicotine abuse. Therapy of BMS is dificult and individual. After exclusion of the secondary form with respective specific therapy, primary BMS may be treated by topical application of clona zepam or capsaicin or systemically with clonazepam or gabapentin. Currently, there is no biomarker that favors one therapy concept.