Burning mouth syndrome: a review and update

Rev Neurol. 2015 May 16;60(10):457-63.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is mainly found in middle aged or elderly women and is characterized by intense burning or itching sensation of the tongue or other regions of the oral mucosa. It can be accompanied by xerostomia and dysgeusia. The syndrome generally manifests spontaneously, and the discomfort is typically of a continuous nature but increases in intensity during the evening and at night. Although BMS classically has been attributed to a range of factors, in recent years evidence has been obtained relating it peripheral (sensory C and/or trigeminal nerve fibers) or central neuropathic disturbances (involving the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system). The differential diagnosis requires the exclusion of oral mucosal lesions or blood test alterations that can produce burning mouth sensation. Patient management is based on the avoidance of causes of oral irritation and the provision of psychological support. Drug treatment for burning sensation in primary BMS of peripheral origin can consist of topical clonazepam, while central type BMS appears to improve with the use of antidepressants such as duloxetine, antiseizure drugs such as gabapentin, or amisulpride.

Title: Sindrome de boca ardiente: revision y puesta al dia.

El sindrome de boca ardiente (SBA) es un cuadro clinico que padecen mayoritariamente mujeres de edad media o avanzada. Se caracteriza por una sensacion muy molesta de ardor o escozor sobre la lengua o en otras zonas de la mucosa bucal. Puede estar acompañado de xerostomia y de disgeusia. Se suele presentar de forma espontanea y tiene un perfil clinico muy caracteristico. Las molestias son continuas, pero aumentan hacia la tarde-noche. Aunque clasicamente se habia atribuido a multiples factores, en los ultimos años hay evidencia para relacionarlo con una disfuncion neuropatica de tipo periferico (fibras C sensitivas o trigeminales) o de tipo central (sistema dopaminergico nigroestriado). En el diagnostico hay que descartar lesiones objetivables en la mucosa oral o alteraciones en la analitica sanguinea que puedan ser causa de ardor bucal. El manejo de los pacientes se basa en evitar focos irritativos orales y soporte psicologico. Para el tratamiento farmacologico del ardor en el SBA primario de causa periferica, se puede administrar clonacepam de uso topico, y pacientes con SBA de tipo central parecen mejorar con el uso de antidepresivos del tipo de la duloxetina, anticonvulsionantes como la gabapentina, o la amisulprida.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Amisulpride
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome* / physiopathology
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome* / psychology
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome* / therapy
  • Clonazepam / therapeutic use
  • Deficiency Diseases / complications
  • Dentures / adverse effects
  • Duloxetine Hydrochloride / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Menopause
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology
  • Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / physiology
  • Orthodontic Appliances
  • Sex Distribution
  • Sulpiride / analogs & derivatives
  • Sulpiride / therapeutic use
  • Tongue Habits

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Clonazepam
  • Sulpiride
  • Amisulpride
  • Duloxetine Hydrochloride