Burning Mouth Syndrome-Home Remedies, Pictures, Causes & Symptoms

Suffering from burning mouth syndrome? In this article find out pictures, home remedies including baking soda treatment,  causes including medication and menopause plus symptoms

Burning Mouth Syndrome Pictures & Meaning

What is BMS?

This refers to a medical condition that is characterized by a continuous sensation of burning in the mouth without an apparent obvious cause. The discomfort affects the tongue, gums and lips, inside the cheeks, roof of your mouth and other wide areas of your mouth. It appears to develop and grow with time.

BMS Pictures

BMS Picture #1

BMS Picture #2

BMS Picture #3

Burning Mouth Syndrome Treatment Baking Soda Home Remedy

Is baking soda effective in treating BMS?

Baking soda helps to create a neutral environment in your mouth. It therefore helps to balance the body pH levels as well as alleviating a lot of signs that come with burning mouth syndrome.

Apart from that, it helps to fight the mouth infections and excess growth of yeast in your mouth which further protects your mouth

How do use baking soda to treat BMS?

The use of baking soda as an agent to relieve burning mouth syndrome has found so much fame. You can easily prepare and use this ingredient at home. It is done as follows:

1. Mix 1/3 cup of warm water with 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda together in a mug.
2. Swirl the mixture around your mouth, and if the burning sensation is also in your throat, gargle.

Other Burning Mouth Syndrome Home Remedies

Glycerin

It helps to sooth the infected region and curing the burning sensation. It also can help to reduce the mouth dryness. Further to that, it can help to keep your mouth moistened, a process that is very essential in the fast healing process. It is suggested that you use veg glycerin. You can prepare this product in many ways but the following two are the most important:

• You can try rinsing your mouth with a glycerin-based mouthwash 2 times per day to achieve the best result.
• You can also use vegetable glycerin to dab your tongue. Let it stay for as long as possible, then use cool water to rinse your mouth carefully. Repeat this method many times throughout the day.

This is one of the best remedies that can help you deal with the various tongue problems and complications.

Mint

This herbal remedy is used because of the antibacterial properties. It inhibits the growth of bacteria inside the mouth, which can help to reduce the issues that are associated with infections. You can prepare the appropriate remedy by:

1. Just chew mint gum or 2 – 3 fresh mint leaves every day to relieve the symptoms.
2. Alternatively, you can chill 1 cup of strong mint tea in the fridge within about half an hour. Consume this tea cool 2 – 3 times per day to achieve the best results.

Using an alternative method,

1. You can also try adding 1 handful of mint leaves (freshly crushed) to a hot water jug.
2. Cover and let it steep within about 60 minutes, and then strain the tea.
3. Consume 1 glass of this mint-infused water three times throughout the day.

Aloe vera

It offers its soothing effects to the affected areas. Apart from that, it also helps to protect the sensitive tissues inside the mouth and can help to treat dry mouth. To make the best remedy, the simple procedure below is very useful:

1. Wash an aloe vera leaf thoroughly and slit the leave open.
2. Scoop out the gel-like liquid inside and use it to apply directly onto the infected area on your tongue.
3. Allow it to stay within fifteen to twenty minutes, and then use cool water to rinse your mouth.
4. Repeat the method two or three times on a daily basis to achieve the best result.

Apart from that, you could decide to rinse your mouth with the extracted juice from aloe vera about 2 to 3 times a day.

Black tea

You can apply the cool black tea extracts directly to your burning tongue. The extracts can be collected by soaking a cup of water two or three tea bags and then boiling them. The tannic acid content of the tea absorbs the heat, then cools and soothes the burning sensation.

Honey

Honey has amazing healing properties and is soothing to the irritated tissue as well. I t also helps to fight the various skin related problems because it is antiseptic in nature. If you are affected by BMS, you should apply honey on the affected area at least half a minute before swallowing. Simply use about ½ a spoon of raw honey on your tongue and then swish it around. You could also add a pinch of turmeric in a teaspoon of honey on the affected area.

Lavender oil

It gives a calming effect and some relief from pain. It has some antiseptic properties that can help to reduce the inflammation and relax the senses. You simply need to apply some lavender oil to the surface and then leave it for some time to reduce the burning sensation.

Vitamin B complex foods

One of the commonest causes of this is vitamin B deficiency. Burning sensations is a symptomatic manifestation of the vitamin deficiency. Vitamin B rich foods like whole grains, cereals and bread, eggs, fish, nuts can restore yours body to normal levels of vitamin B.[1]

Alpha lipoic acid is yet another important remedy. It has very powerful anti-oxidant properties. These were demonstrated in the Journal of Pathology and Medicine. It has shown to relieve BMS and protect the body from harmful radicals. It also helps to recover the nerve cell function thus preventing them from further damage.

Capsaicin rinse

The application of capsaicin found in chili pepper can help to desensitize or numb the affected area hence give you relief from the pain. According to the American Family Physician’s article published on burning mouth syndrome, a capsaicin rinse can help to improve symptoms.[2]

In order to make the appropriate remedy, use the following very simple procedure that will land you there:

1. Mix two teaspoons water with one teaspoon cayenne pepper extract.
2. Swish around your mouth for 20–40 seconds, or whatever is tolerable, and then spit.
3. Depending on what is tolerable, increase the strength bit by bit until the numbing action takes effect.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly if any of the solution gets on your fingers.

Clove

This is an antibacterial and numbing agent. A drop of this oil to ½ a teaspoon of coconut oil can help when placed in the mouth. Allow the oil to interact with the tissues in your mouth for a minute then swallow. Apart from that, ½ teaspoon of the clove powder added to warm water and taken as tea helps in this condition.

Cayenne pepper

This is a herb that reduces pain, increases salivation and increase circulation. Addition of the pepper to food or adding ¼ teaspoon to some juice and slowly sipping may provide some temporary relief to your mouth.

Zinc

Deficiency of zinc has been linked to burning sensation in the mouth, thus burning mouth syndrome. According to the Linus Pauling Institute’s Micronutrient Information Center, nearly 2 billion people worldwide have a marginal zinc deficiency. You should therefore supplement your diet with a lot of zinc. Take about 8mg of zinc if you are 19 years and above for women and 11 mg for men.
The zinc is plenty in some foods that include lamb, pumpkin seeds, grass fed beef, chickpeas, cocoa powder, cashews and kefir or yoghurt. These food should be in plenty in your daily diets.

Medications that cause burning mouth syndrome

There are case reports that have proven beyond doubt that medication which are called the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors cause burning mouth syndrome. These are antihypertensive medications.

Once you use or discontinue the use of these medications, oral burning sensations occur within several weeks.

Also, loss of taste sensation has also been reported with these drugs.[3] The use of antivirals has also been reported to be linked to this syndrome.

Burning mouth syndrome menopause

Burning sensation in oral mucosa are some common problems in menopausal women. It occurs especially in post-menopausal women. Various other conditions like lichen planus, candidiasis, viral infections, xerostomia also have the burning sensation but the one seen in menopause is accompanied by an alteration of the oral mucosa.

Recent hypotheses have shown that burning mouth syndrome is associated with an alteration of the gonadal, adrenal and neuroactive steroid levels. The relationship with menopause is proven by the suggestion that the dramatic fall in gonadal steroids that occurs at that time further alters the production of neuroactive steroids. It is reported that the burning sensation presents its lowest intensity upon waking up, but reappears after the first meal of the day where it could become unbearable.[4]

Burning Mouth Syndrome Clonazepam

Clonazepam, a very potent medication against general anxiety disorders is useful when dealing with burning mouth syndrome. Controlled trials previously have shown orally ingested clonazepam to be effective in patients with burning mouth syndrome. Sucked clonazepam provides the advantages of a topical therapy. This is according to Dr. Mendizabal of the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.

Despite that being the case, it has also been reported that discontinuation of the medication abruptly brings about the recurrence of the syndrome. Therefore, the discontinuity of the drug should be done slowly so as to monitor and reduce the likely side effects.[5]

Other Burning Mouth Syndrome Causes

Neuropathic pain

This means that the nerve fibers in your mouth for now are functioning abnormally and transferring pain despite the fact that there is no painful stimulus. It has been suggested that the nerves that transmit pain in the mouth are stimulated or excited.

Dry mouth

When your mouth lacks adequate saliva to stay wet, you will have dry, sticky feeling of a dry mouth. This is brought about by such factors as diseases that affect the salivary glands, some medications and hormonal changes.

Nutritional deficiencies

The lack of some nutrients in your diet is likely to bring about this syndrome. The deficiency of vitamin B and minerals like zinc and iron contribute to the tongue being greatly affected. Always ensure you are eating foods that are rich in these nutrients. If need be, you could get a supplementation of the same.

Mouth irritation

Consumption of so many irritating beverages, over brushing your tongue and overusing mouth wash can irritate mouth tissues. If you encounter burning sensation in your mouth, then try to take less acidic foods and drinks. Talk to your dentist about your oral hygiene habits to determine whether or not you could be causing mouth irritation.

Oral conditions

Conditions like oral thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth) or geographic tongue (a tongue that has a map like appearance on its surface). Your dentist should be in a position to give a diagnosis then give the appropriate medication to reduce the pain and discomfort.

More

Hormonal imbalances, nerve damage and allergies are some of the medical issues that could cause the condition. Always take care of your oral and overall health with good oral hygiene habits, a healthy diet and regular dental appointments.[6]

Burning Sensation in Mouth Symptoms

The main symptom of this syndrome is pain in the mouth that is burning, scalding or tingling. The pain may have a feeling off numbness. Other symptoms may include dry mouth or altered taste in your mouth. Usually, the tongue is affected, but the pain may also be in the lips or the roof of the mouth or throughout the mouth.[7]

The discomfort from burning mouth syndrome typically has several different patterns. It may:

• Occur every day, with little discomfort when you wake, but become worse as the day progresses
• Start as soon as you wake up and last all day
• Come and go

Whatever pattern of mouth discomfort you have, burning mouth syndrome may last for months to years. In rare cases, symptoms may suddenly go away on their own or become less frequent. Some sensations may be temporarily relieved during eating or drinking.

Burning mouth syndrome usually does not cause any noticeable physical changes to your tongue or mouth. However, in case it occurs that there is the manifestation of physical changes in your mouth, then you should seek immediate medical attention.[8]

Sources

[1] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/manage/ptc-20179962

[2] http://www.chronicpaindisorders.com/5-natural-remedies-for-burning-mouth-syndrome/

[3] http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p615.html

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570906/

[5] http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalneurologynews/article/101624/pain/ihc-sucked-clonazepam-douses-burning-mouth-syndrome

[6] http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/mouth-sores-and-infections/article/five-simple-burning-tongue-causes-and-solutions-1013

[7] http://www.medicinenet.com/burning_mouth_syndrome/article.htm

[8] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/dxc-20179960