What is BMS?
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a burning sensation in your mouth. It affects between 0.75 and 15% of the population. Women and those over 50 are most affected.
BMS Symptoms
- A hot, painful burning sensation in the tongue, lips, gums, palate, throat or whole mouth
- A dry or numb mouth
- Tingling or stinging in your mouth
- Bitter or metallic taste
- Loss of taste
- Increased thirst
How is BMS diagnosed?
Your gastroenterologist will carry out an oral examination and medical history. This will help them to identify if any other underlying diseases or deficiencies could be causing the symptoms.
Treatments for BMS
If there is an underlying condition causing BMS, your doctor will recommend appropriate treatments. If there’s no underlying cause, you have primary BMS. This can be managed through:
- Dietary changes
- Not smoking
- Good hydrating
- Oral hygiene
- Complementary therapies
- Medications
Do you have symptoms of BMS that you want to discuss? Book an appointment.
