What Causes Burning Mouth Syndrome to Flare Up? 15 Triggers

Diagnostic criteria for burning mouth syndrome require all of the following:

• Oralpain
• Recurringpain(daily for more than 2 hours per day for at least 3 months)
• Normal oral mucosa
• Pain is burning and superficial

A few studies have suggested that the burning mouth syndrome may be due to the following causes:

• Small-fibersensory neuropathy in the trigeminal nerve
• Higher number of unoccupied D2dopaminereceptors in the brain

When no condition is found to cause burning mouth syndrome, it is called idiopathic and treated withtricyclic antidepressantsorgabapentin. A small case series have described the beneficial effects of treating the disorder withpramipexolethat affects the dopamine receptors. Most cases need lifestyle modifications as well asaddictioncontrol.

1. Foods:Spices (pepper, cloves,garlic, paprika), fruits (tomatoes), orange juice, soda, and coffee.
2. Temperature:Extremely hot foods, which can aggravate the burning sensation.
3. Oralallergysyndrome:Food allergiessuch as nuts (almonds, apricots, walnuts) or fruits (kiwi, nectarines, apricots, apples). Individuals often have an accompanying history ofasthma,hay fever, oreczema.
4. Hormonal conditions:Diabetes,hypothyroidism,menopause, or perimenopausal period.
5. Dental conditions:Reaction to certain toothpastes or mouthwashes, poorly fitteddentures, recent dental procedures,allergyto the materials used to make dental prosthesis or implants, impacted molars.
6. Nutritional deficiencies:Deficiency ofvitaminsB complex and C, iron,folic acid, and zinc.
7. Infections:Oral infections, such asherpes,candidiasis,cytomegalovirus, and vaccinia virus.
8. Nerve damage:Traumato or growth around the trigeminal nerve that supplies the face, oral cavity, and skin over it.
9. Mental illness:Stress,anxiety, ordepression, which may cause similar symptoms. Those withbipolar disorderorschizophreniaoften complain of altered pain perception, which may be the reason for this phenomenon.
10. Autoimmune conditions:Sjogren’s syndrome, aphthous ulcers,systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),rheumatoid arthritis.
11. Medications:Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,vitamin Aanalogs, anti-human immunodeficiency virus药物(如efavirenz), antianxietydrugs(such asclonazepam),antidepressants(such asfluoxetine,sertraline), as well as hormonal replacement therapy.
12. Conditions that alter taste or saliva production:History of oral surgery,radiationto the head and neck forcancers, cystic fibrosis. etc.
13. Acid reflux:Condition in which acid from the stomach comes up into the mouth.
14. Addictions:Cigarettes,alcohol,smokingweed, etc. which can dry out the mouth.
15. COVID-19:Burning mouth syndrome is a rare manifestation of postCOVID-19sequelae.

COVID-19has been known to affect thelungsand other organs of the body.

Burning mouth syndrome is a rare but reported symptom of COVID-19. About 5.3% of those diagnosed with COVID-19 report burning sensations in the mouth. A significant number of COVID-19 patients also complain of symptoms such asbumpson the tongue along with inflammation and swelling.

If COVID-19 is the cause for burning mouth, it may present with other symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Body ache
• Cough
• Change in taste and smell

The best way to manage burning mouth syndrome is to treat the underlying cause. You should visit a doctor who can order tests such as mouth swabs, tongue swabs,allergytests, autoimmune panels, screening for infections, or even biopsies to confirm a diagnosis.

You may, however, attempt the following remedies to soothe the burning sensation:

Drink more water: Sipping water often helps keep the mouth moist and reduces gritty sensations. Sipping cool water is more effective than sipping room temperature water.

• Suck on ice:Try sucking on crushed ice or ice chips. Ice temporarily numbs the area and may provide some relief.
• Avoid acidicdrinks:Juices high in acids, such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, etc. irritate the mucosa.
• Avoid certain foods:Avoid spices and any foods that causeallergicreactions.
• Quit tobacco and alcohol:Smokingand alcohol consumption may aggravate symptoms.
• Chewsugar-free gum:Chewing gum may help with saliva production and reduce gritty sensations in the mouth.
• Use mouth gels:口凝胶含有麻木代理可以帮助the short term, especially during mealtimes, when the pain may interfere with eating.
• Takevitamins:Over-the-countersupplementscontaining iron, vitamins, and矿物质may help in some cases.
• Change toothpastes:Try changing to another mouthwash ortoothpastebrand.