Burning Mouth Syndrome

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, April 15, 2002

Burning mouth syndrome isn't 'just in your head'
04/15/2002
By Dr. LINDA NIESSEN / Special Contributor to WFAA-TV News

For years, Janet Clauson has suffered from burning mouth syndrome.

"It's like your tongue is real thick," she says. "And it doesn't want to do what you want it to do. Your gums burn. It's hard to talk. It really is."

Burning mouth syndrome tends to affect women more than men — and many women who are going through menopause.

"It happens more frequently in post-menopausal women, " says dentist Dr. Jackie Plemons, who specializes in diseases of the mouth. "It's been related to things like yeast infections or allergies to different foods or products in the mouth."

"Now burning mouth is very interesting because the tongue looks very normal but she still experiences symptoms," she adds, as she examines Clauson.

"First thing we do is look at yeast infections and diet," she continues. "We do some diet manipulation. When everything else has been tried, we use medications that have been shown to be effective for neurogenic pain, pain that is a result of some sort of nerve problem."

Although she wasn't depressed, a low dose antidepressant medicine called Elavil has helped Clauson.

"I really think the Elavil has done a lot for me," she says. "And I only take ten milligrams a day."

Clauson also has dry mouth. She drinks lots of water and avoids foods and beverages that irritate her mouth.

"I avoid all kinds of carbonated drinks because they hurt," she says. "There's just a lot of things I've learned to give up. I try to avoid a lot of acids."

What's Dr. Plemons' advice to the patient who's been told that her burning mouth symptoms are all in her head?

"Well, that's a very common report among patients who present to our clinic," she says. "Try to find in your neighborhood a clinic that treats oral medicine patients."

Burning mouth syndrome also occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes or patients taking some heart medicines or antibiotics. So if you suffer from burning mouth, it's not in your head. It really is in your mouth.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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