What is Burning Mouth Syndrome
How can you identify if you're experiencing burning mouth syndrome? The primary symptom is a sensation akin to being scalded by a piping hot liquid in your mouth, which can sometimes extend to your tongue. Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by this unexplained burning sensation, with no identifiable medical or dental origins. This discomfort typically manifests every day and can persist for 4-6 months. While the pain tends to subside during sleep, it often returns upon waking, gradually intensifying from mild in the late morning to its peak by late afternoon or early evening. This severe burning can also disrupt your ability to fall asleep at night.
There is a high level of pain
For too long, the medical world has overlooked the intense pain associated with burning mouth syndrome. While initial studies downplayed its severity, newer research suggests that the pain can be moderate to quite intense, often likened to the acute discomfort of a toothache.
In addition to the primary symptom, patients can experience dry mouth, itching, a sense of roughness, a "tacky feeling," difficulty swallowing, and alterations in taste, including a metallic flavor. Often, the onset of the pain occurs without warning, though at times it can be traced back to specific triggers like dental work, sickness, or certain medications. Once this burning sensation begins, it can endure for several years.
The trajectory of burning mouth syndrome isn't well-documented. However, some research suggests that individuals may experience a degree of relief after six to seven years, even without treatment. That's quite a lengthy period to hope for potential relief!
What is the Cause of Burning Mouth Syndrome
There are many misconceptions about the causes of BMS. Believe it or not, doctors dread seeing patients like you! Do you want to know why? They don't know what to do with you!!
Unfortunately, very few practitioners have been trained how to diagnose and treat BMS properly.....
So let's dispel some of the most common misconceptions:
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Depression is the cause
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Anxiety is the cause
It is not in your head!! The type of pain you are feeling is not normal. I know and understand your frustration. When doctors are unable to determine the cause, they sometimes place the blame on the patient experiencing burning mouth syndrome. More understanding doctors recognize that the pain might lead to feelings of depression. It's understandable, as enduring chronic pain, especially when it disrupts sleep, can be emotionally taxing.
So what is the cause? We know that the main symptoms that are caused by BMS are a neurologic problem. Certain nerves in the mouth aren't working quite right. We also know that BMS affects way more women than men (up to 90% more!), and these women tend to be peri-menopausal. So, hormones are obviously also involved!
Stay away from treatments for depression and anxiety!
Typically, medications intended for anxiety and depression aren't successful in treating this condition. These drugs may cause drowsiness and carry a risk of addiction. It's crucial to avoid compounding your burning mouth symptoms with potential dependency issues. An exception would be prescriptions that are designed for direct application on the tissues in the mouth, which has been beneficial for some. These would include dissolvable lozenges or slurries which you use to rinse and spit out.
As for anti-seizure medications, they've been suggested for various pain conditions because they modify nerve conduction. While they could offer some relief, they come with side effects like drowsiness and feeling out of touch. It's also worth noting that their effectiveness specifically for burning mouth syndrome hasn't been firmly established in scientific studies.
My Approach
Please understand that my approach isn't something I learned in a book or at any point during my many years of education....
I didn't start out thinking I would ever dedicate a large percentage of my time and energy to solving the problem of BMS. I have been brought on this journey by the many patients I have treatmed over the years. When I say I understand the frustrations that you feel, I really mean it. I spent far too many years frustrated that I wasn't able to adequately help the many patients I saw suffering terribly with burning mouth. Frustrated in the lack of knowledge in the medical and dental community, frustrated from the lack of support for people suffering from BMS, and frustrated by the lack of treatments options available to stop the burn!
This frustration led me down the path of learning. After hundreds of hours spent researching and developing, I developed my comprehensive treatment for BMS.
For the vast majority of people suffering from BMS, a single mode of treatment doesn't fully eliminate the pain and burning. Through the last 15 years of clinical practice, my treatment philosophy has been molded by what I have seen help and improve my patient's lives. My goal has always been to develop treatment that is available to everyone, because I know that finding a doctor who knows how to treat this condition can be very challenging.
After 15 years, I am excited to say that I have finally developed the treatment that will help everyone suffering from BMS. My treatment attacks BMS from every angle:
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A community to interactive with and support each other
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A proprietary and patent pending red light therapy mouthpiece to decrease inflammation and promote healing
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A proprietary mouth rinse to extinguish the burn
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A daily oral probiotic to
Tracking Your BMS Is Critical
The importance of diligently tracking your Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) symptoms cannot be overstated, especially when striving for effective management and relief. Keeping a detailed journal of your daily experiences with BMS – noting the severity of symptoms, dietary habits, stress levels, and any treatment responses – is invaluable in identifying patterns and triggers. This self-awareness can lead to more targeted and successful management strategies. Understanding the nuances of how different factors affect your BMS is crucial for both you and your healthcare provider in customizing a treatment plan that works best for you. Recognizing the critical role of this approach, I am offering my BMS Wellness Journal for free. This journal is designed to guide you in tracking your condition systematically, helping to uncover key insights that can lead to meaningful improvements in managing your BMS. It's a tool that empowers you to take an active role in your journey towards alleviating the symptoms of BMS, leading to more effective results and improved quality of life.
Fill out the form below to get your FREE copy of my BMS Wellness Journal.
My Approach
