What is burning mouth syndrome?
Burning mouth syndrome, or BMS, is a chronic oral pain condition that causes a persistent burning, tingling, or scalding feeling in the mouth, often on the tongue, lips, inner cheeks, or roof of the mouth, even when there’s no obvious injury or visible cause.
It shows up more often after menopause. At Alloy, we usually describe it as a nerve-related pain condition that can also come with dry mouth, a bitter or metallic taste, and increased oral sensitivity. Symptoms often build as the day goes on.
It’s usually diagnosed after other causes are ruled out, like acid reflux, oral infection, allergies to foods or dental products, teeth grinding, medication side effects, or nutrient deficiencies such as low B12, iron, zinc, or folate. If mouth pain is persistent or worsening, especially with sores, bleeding, trouble swallowing, or unplanned weight loss, it should be checked by a dentist or clinician.
For a fuller explanation, this Alloy article is useful: Why does my mouth feel like it’s burning during menopause?. This short video section on estrogen and oral health is helpful too.
This answer was created using the following resources: