Burning mouth syndrome

Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

When the cause of burning mouth syndrome isn't known, the condition is called primary or idiopathic burning mouth syndrome. Sometimes burning mouth syndrome is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as a nutritional deficiency. In these cases, it's called secondary burning mouth syndrome.

Some research suggests that primary burning mouth syndrome is related to problems with taste and sensory nerves of the peripheral or central nervous system. Secondary burning mouth syndrome is a symptom of one or more underlying medical problems. Underlying problems that may be linked to secondary burning mouth syndrome include:

• Dry mouth (xerostomia), which can be caused by various medications or health problems.
• Other oral conditions, such as oral yeast 
• infection (thrush), oral lichen planus and geographic tongue.
• Psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression or excessive health worries.
• Nutritional deficiencies, such as lack of iron, zinc, folate (vitamin B-9), thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin (vitamin B-2), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and cobalamin (vitamin B-12).
• Dentures. Dentures can place stress on some of the muscles and tissues of your mouth, causing mouth pain. The materials used in dentures also can irritate the tissues in your mouth.
• Nerve damage to nerves that control taste and pain in the tongue.
• Allergies or reactions to foods, food flavorings, other food additives, fragrances, dyes or other substances.
• Reflux of stomach acid (gastroesophageal reflux disease)that enters your mouth from your upper gastrointestinal tract.
• Certain medications, particularly high blood pressure medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
• Oral habits, such as tongue thrusting and teeth grinding (bruxism).
• Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
• Hormonal imbalances, such as those associated with menopause.
• Excessive mouth irritation, which may result from overbrushing of your tongue, overuse of mouthwashes or having too many acidic drinks.