Burning Mouth Tongue
Often women going through menopause are afflicted by a symptom of a burning mouth or tongue. Most commonly known as burning mouth syndrome, it is described as a burning sensation on the tongue, gums, lips, inside of the cheeks and the back of the mouth and throat. A burning mouth and tongue as experienced during menopause is typically regarded as resulting from fluctuating hormone levels that occur during this time.
Keep reading for more detailed information on how to deal with the symptoms of a burning mouth and tongue.
What is causes this bizarre sensation of burning mouth and tongue?
Quick Fact:
The exact cause of burning mouth syndrome is often difficult to pin down, and pain may continue for months or years.
Burning mouth syndrome is a very complex condition where a burning pain occurs on the tongue or lips, or over widespread areas involving the whole mouth without any obvious reason. The symptoms have for a long time been linked with a variety of other conditions such as menopause, psychological problems, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders of the mouth (such as oral thrush and dry mouth (xerostomia)). Some researchers have suggested damaged nerves could be a possible cause.
What does burning mouth and tongue feel like?
 Burning mouth and tongue syndrome typically starts with a minor sensation of pain or burning in the mornings and escalates through the day until it can reach almost unbearable levels.
A burning mouth and tongue can also give things that touch the tongue a bitter, metallic type taste – some would argue that this is in line with its other strange symptoms.
Is menopause the main cause of a burning mouth and tongue?
This symptom is not clearly understood and consequently neither is its causes. Aside from menopause being the obvious culprit (we come to this conclusion because of the abnormally high number of menopausal women who suffer from it) there are a number of factors that could be responsible. The following is a list of other potential causes:
Irritating dentures - Dentures (false teeth) may place stress on some of the muscles and tissues of the mouth. The materials used in dentures can also irritate the tissues in the mouth.
 Nerve disturbance or damage (neuropathy) - Damage to nerves that control taste and pain in the tongue may also result in a burning mouth and tongue sensation.
Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) – The body´s oral tissues may react to high blood sugar levels such as occur in a person suffering from diabetes.
What can I do about a burning mouth and tongue?
The orthodox approach of medical professionals is to treat burning mouth and tongue syndrome with different generic medications more commonly associated with other symptoms. For example, antidepressants and antipsychotics have been used along with to desensitize patients’ mouths from suffering from pain.
If however the burning mouth and tongue is being provoked by hormone fluctuations as experienced in menopause, there are some very effective alternative remedies that work by helping to regulate the body´s own hormone production. Alternative treatments have proven effective in reducing many of the symptoms of menopause and burning mouth and tongue is no exception.
For more specific information about combating burning mouth and tongue symptoms click here.
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