This is a condition that results in the mouth feeling as though it had been scalded; a painful though invisible condition called the Burning Mouth Syndrome. This is observed principally in menopausal or post menopausal women.
This non contagious condition is treatable and in secondary cases, is linked to problems such as vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, certain medications and fungal infections. So very often, treating this underlying condition can help to treat the burning mouth syndrome.
When occurring by itself (primary cases), burning mouth is a kind of neuropathic pain that results from a malfunctioning of pain nerves or by injury.
This condition is also seen to be present among older women, who have certain psychological problems such as depression or anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders and post traumatic stress.
According to Dr. Sook-Bin Woo, an associate professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, women having this condition are generally seen to be sad or anxious. Their symptoms such as pain are very real, but these could be the indication of the presence of deeper problems.
Alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant is generally used to treat the condition. Alternatively Tabasco sauce (or capsaicin) diluted with water swished around mouth can also help. At times low doses of medication for anxiety and depression are prescribed.
