J Dent Rehabil Appl Sci.  2019 Sep;35(3):123-131. 10.14368/jdras.2019.35.3.123.

A literature review on burning mouth syndrome

• Choi SH
• Lee BN
• Lim HS
• Oh WM
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2463621
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14368/jdras.2019.35.3.123

Abstract

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as the xerostomia, burning sensation and various discomfort of tongue and oral mucosa. BMS can occur in both men and women, but is more frequent in middle-aged menopausal women. Because exact cause can't be identified clearly and it is hard to make diagnosis in clinic, the purpose of the treatment have been to relieve symptoms. Etiology of BMS is divided into local, systemic, and psychological factors. α-lipoic acid, clonazepam, supplemental therapy and cognitive behavior therapy can be prescribed for BMS. Nowdays, many experts focus attention on effect of combination therapy. It is necessary to solve the symptoms of the patients by combination of pharmacological approach and psychotherapy with cognitive behavior therapy considering the factors in various aspects.

Keyword

burning mouth syndrome; clinical features; etiology; diagnosis; treatment

MeSH Terms

Burning Mouth Syndrome*
Burns*
Clonazepam
Cognitive Therapy
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Male
Mouth Mucosa
Psychology
Psychotherapy
Sensation
Tongue
Xerostomia
Clonazepam

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flowchart for diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome.

Reference

References

1. Grushka M. Clinical features of burning mouth syndrome. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1987; 63:30–6. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(87)90336-7. PMID: 3468464.

2. Koo J, Gambla C. Cutaneous sensory disorder. Dermatol Clin. 1996; 14:497–502. DOI: 10.1016/S0733-8635(05)70377-6. PMID: 8818559.

3. Merskey H, Bogduk N. Classification of chronic pain, IASP Task Force on Taxonomy. 2nd ed. Seattle: International Association for the Study of Pain Press;1994. p. 209–14.

4. Muzyka BC, De Rossi SS. A review of burning mouth syndrome. Cutis. 1999; 64:29–35. PMID: 10431669.

5. Scala A, Checchi L, Montevecchi M, Marini I, Giamberardino MA. Update on burning mouth syndrome:overview and patient management. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 2003; 14:275–91. DOI: 10.1177/154411130301400405. PMID: 12907696.

6. Locker D, Grushka M. Prevalence of oral and facial pain and discomfort:preliminary results of a mail survey. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1987; 15:169–72. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1987.tb00508.x. PMID: 3474103.

7. Klasser GD, Epstein JB. Oral burning and burning mouth syndrome. J Am Dent Assoc. 2012; 143:1317–9. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2012.0093. PMID: 23204086.

8. Bergdahl M, Bergdahl J. Burning mouth syndrome:prevalence and associated factors. J Oral Pathol Med. 1999; 28:350–4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1999.tb02052.x. PMID: 10478959.

9. Jaaskelainen SK. Pathophysiology of primary burning mouth syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol. 2012; 123:71–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.07.054. PMID: 22030140.

10. Lamey PJ, Lamb AB. Prospective study of aetiological factors in burning mouth syndrome. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1988; 296:1243–6. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.296.6631.1243. PMID: 3133028. PMCID: PMC2545712.

11. Chung JW, Kim JH, Kim HD, Kho HS, Kim YK, Chung SC. Chronic orofacial pain among Korean elders:prevalence, and impact using the graded chronic pain scale. Pain. 2004; 112:164–70. DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2004.08.014. PMID: 15494197.

12. Femiano F, Gombos F, Esposito V, Nunziata M, Scully C. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS):evaluation of thyroid and taste. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2006; 11:E22–5. PMID: 16388288.

13. Savage NW, Boras VV, Barker K. Burning mouth syndrome:clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Australas J Dermatol. 2006; 47:77–81. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2006.00236.x. PMID: 16637799.

14. Nagler RM, Hershkovich O. Sialochemical and gustatory analysis in patients with oral sensory complaints. J Pain. 2004; 5:56–63. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2003.09.002. PMID: 14975379.

15. Femiano F, Lanza A, Buonaiuto C, Gombos F, Nunziata M, Cuccurullo L, Cirillo N. Burning mouth syndrome and burning mouth in hypothyroidism:proposal for a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2008; 105:e22–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2007.07.030. PMID: 18155597.

16. Brufau-Redondo C, Martin-Brufau R, Corbalan-Velez R, de Concepcion-Salesa A. Burning mouth syndrome. Actas DermoSifiliogr. 2008; 99:431–40. DOI: 10.1016/S0001-7310(08)74714-8. PMID: 18558051.

17. Basker RM, Sturdee DW, Davenport JC. Patients with burning mouth. A clinical investigation of causative factors, including the climacteric and diabetes. Br Dent J. 1978; 145:9–16. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4804107. PMID: 277204.

18. Tourne LP, Fricton JR. Burning mouth syndrome. Critical review and proposed clinical management. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1992; 74:158–67. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(92)90376-2. PMID: 1508523.

19. Wardrop RW, Hailes J, Burger H, Reade PC. Oral discomfort at menopause. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1989; 67:535–40. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(89)90269-7. PMID: 2497421.

20. Gao J, Chen L, Zhou J, Peng J. A case-control study on etiological factors involved in patients with burning mouth syndrome. J Oral Pathol Med. 2009; 38:24–8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2008.00708.x. PMID: 19192047.

21. Woda A, Dao T, Gremeau-Richard C. Steroid dysregulation and stomatodynia (burning mouth syndrome). J Orofac Pain. 2009; 23:202–10. PMID: 19639097.

22. Zakrzewska JM. Critical commentary 1:steroid dysregulation and stomatodynia (burning mouth syndrome). J Orofac Pain. 2009; 23:211–3. PMID: 19639098.

23. Lamey PJ, Hammond A, Allam BF, McIntosh WB. Vitamin status of patients with burning mouth syndrome and response to replacement therapy. Br Dent J. 1986; 160:81–4. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4805773. PMID: 3456235.

24. Lin HP, Wang YP, Chen HM, Kuo YS, Lang MJ, Sun A. Significant association of hematinic deficiencies and high blood homocysteine levels with burning mouth syndrome. J Formos Med Assoc. 2013; 112:319–25. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2012.02.022. PMID: 23787008.

25. Rhodus NL, Fricton J, Carlson P, Messner R. Oral symptoms associated with fibromyalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol. 2003; 30:1841–5. PMID: 12913944.

26. Maina G, Albert U, Gandolfo S, Vitalucci A, Bogetto F. Personality disorders in patients with burning mouth syndrome. J Pers Disord. 2005; 19:84–93. DOI: 10.1521/pedi.19.1.84.62182. PMID: 15899722.

27. Huang W, Rothe MJ, Grant-Kels JM. The burning mouth syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996; 34:91–8. DOI: 10.1016/S0190-9622(96)90840-3. PMID: 8543701.

28. Lamey PJ, Freeman R, Eddie SA, Pankhurst C, Rees T. Vulnerability and presenting symptoms in burning mouth syndrome. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2005; 99:48–54. DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.01.021. PMID: 15599348.

29. Amenabar JM, Pawlowski J, Hilgert JB, Hugo FN, Bandeira D, Lhuller F, Lopez de Souza MA. Anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in patients with burning mouth syndrome:case-control study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2008; 105:460–5. DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2007.10.002. PMID: 18329582.

30. Coculescu EC, Radu A, Coculescu BI. Burning mouth syndrome:a review on diagnosis and treatment. J Med Life. 2014; 7:512–5. PMID: 25713611. PMCID: PMC4316128.

31. Aravindhan R, Vidyalakshmi S, Kumar MS, Satheesh C, Balasubramanium AM, Prasad VS. Burning mouth syndrome:A review on its diagnostic and therapeutic approach. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2014; 6:S21–5. DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.137255. PMID: 25210377. PMCID: PMC4157273.

32. Grushka M, Epstein JB, Gorsky M. Burning mouth syndrome:differential diagnosis. Dermatol Ther. 2002; 15:287–91. DOI: 10.1046/j.1529-8019.2002.01535.x.

33. Epstein JB, Marcoe JH. Topical application of capsaicin for treatment of oral neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1994; 77:135–40. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(94)90275-5. PMID: 8139830.

34. Gremeau-Richard C, Woda A, Navez ML, Attal N, Bouhassira D, Gagnieu MC, Laluque JF, Picard P, Pionchon P, Tubert S. Topical clonazepam in stomatodynia:a randomised placebo-controlled study. Pain. 2004; 108:51–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2003.12.002. PMID: 15109507.

35. Lopez-Jornet P, Camacho-Alonso F, Molino-Pagan D. Prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical evaluation of Aloe vera Barbadensis, applied in combination with a tongue protector to treat burning mouth syndrome. J Oral Pathol Med. 2013; 42:295–301. DOI: 10.1111/jop.12002. PMID: 22957483.

36. Mancuso G, Berdondini RM. Simultaneous occurrence of dysaesthetic peno/scroto-dynia and stomatodynia. Int J STD AIDS. 2005; 16:830–1. DOI: 10.1258/095646205774988154. PMID: 16336770.

37. Maina G, Vitalucci A, Gandolfo S, Bogetto F. Comparative efficacy of SSRIs and amisulpride in burning mouth syndrome:a single-blind study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002; 63:38–43. DOI: 10.4088/JCP.v63n0108. PMID: 11838624.

38. Culhane NS, Hodle AD. Burning mouth syndrome after taking clonazepam. Ann Pharmacother. 2001; 35:874–6. DOI: 10.1345/aph.1Z434. PMID: 11485137.

39. Femiano F, Gombos F, Scully C. Burning mouth syndrome:the efficacy of lipoic acid on subgroups. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2004; 18:676–8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2004.01049.x. PMID: 15482293.

40. Sun A, Lin HP, Wang YP, Chen HM, Cheng SJ, Chiang CP. Significant reduction of serum homocysteine level and oral symptoms after different vitamin-supplement treatments in patients with burning mouth syndrome. J Oral Pathol Med. 2013; 42:474–9. DOI: 10.1111/jop.12043. PMID: 23297780.

41. Cho GS, Han MW, Lee B, Roh JL, Choi SH, Cho KJ, Nam SY, Kim SY. Zinc deficiency may be a cause of burning mouth syndrome as zinc replacement therapy has therapeutic effects. J Oral Pathol Med. 2010; 39:722–7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2010.00914.x. PMID: 20618611.

42. Forabosco A, Criscuolo M, Coukos G, Uccelli E, Weinstein R, Spinato S, Botticelli A, Volpe A. Efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with oral discomfort. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1992; 73:570–4. DOI: 10.1016/0030-4220(92)90100-5. PMID: 1325633.

43. Amos K, Yeoh SC, Farah CS. Combined topical and systemic clonazepam therapy for the management of burning mouth syndrome:a retrospective pilot study. J Orofac Pain. 2011; 25:125–30. PMID: 21528119.

44. Bergdahl J, Anneroth G, Perris H. Cognitive therapy in the treatment of patients with resistant burning mouth syndrome:a controlled study. J Oral Pathol Med. 1995; 24:213–5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1995.tb01169.x. PMID: 7616460.