Q. I regularly feel a warm, burning sensation in my mouth – how can I get rid of it?
A. It sounds like you may be suffering from Burning Mouth Syndrome, also known as glossodynia. It can cause areas of your mouth to feel like they are burning, even if they are not necessarily hot to touch.
There are a number of causes for this burning sensation such as reaction to certain toothpaste, allergies to dentures or mouthwashes, anxiety, stress, and depression. Certain medical conditions can also bring about the sensation — like acid reflux, dry mouth, nutritional deficiencies, and diabetes. Although anyone can suffer from this, it is more common in middle-aged or older women. Typically, sufferers will start to feel the burning sensation begin in the morning with it continuing throughout the day and easing by night-time. Others may feel the burning sensation all the time.
My advice would be to try and ease the symptoms yourself by ensuring you’re drinking water regularly, avoiding certain foods and drinks that may irritate your mouth — like acidic fruits and juices, spicy foods and mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Also, try sucking on crushed ice. If you smoke, then this is a good opportunity to try and quit smoking and even reducing the amount of alcohol you consume will help.
If the problem persists, then I recommend visiting your dentist first as they will be able to check if it’s caused by a dental issue and make recommendations accordingly. And if it isn’t a dental issue then they may refer you to your doctor or a specialist.
* For more information about dental issues, contact Synergy Dental Clinics Bolton or Bury, email bury@synergydental.org.uk or go to https://synergydental.org.uk/synergy-dental/dentist-in-bury/