Effect of Oral Care in a Patient with Depression and Burning Mouth Syndrome during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Yumiko Nagao; Hitomi Nakagaki; Masahide Tsuji

doi:10.1155/2021/3039269

Effect of Oral Care in a Patient with Depression and Burning Mouth Syndrome during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Case Rep Dent. 2021 Oct 26:2021:3039269. doi: 10.1155/2021/3039269. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Yumiko Nagao^{1

2}, Hitomi Nakagaki², Masahide Tsuji²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
² Tsuji Dental & Oral Surgery Clinic, Shiragane Machi, Omuta, Fukuoka 836-0052, Japan.

Abstract

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a burning sensation that occurs in the mouth without any underlying cause. There is no satisfactory treatment for BMS, so far. Herein, we report the case of a 74-year-old female with untreated depression who presented with BMS. Despite taking antidepressants, she developed suicidal thoughts, particularly due to the increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and suicides in Japan. The symptoms of BMS and the oral discomfort were eliminated using a multifaceted approach, which included the following: continuous application of the oral care gel "REFRECARE-H®" to the mucous membranes, regular dental visits, collaboration with medical and dental professionals, and administration of zinc preparations. Her suicidal thoughts had disappeared, and her quality of life, assessed using the visual analogue scale, was improved following the treatment. Dentists should strive to provide oral care, while providing treatment in collaboration with specialists, for the early detection of depression and zinc deficiency in patients with BMS.

Publication types

Case Reports