• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Burnt mouth syndrome

J

JohnSat

Member
Messages
7
Hi I pre-diabetic and been having gum problems for a while now and have just started a very expensive course of treatment with a new dentist. A couple of weeks before my visit I noticed a sensation in my mouth a bit like burnt lips. Dentist doesn't think it's related to my gum disease and suggested I get my B12 levels checked.
Has anyone else had similar problems I find that mouth wash burns as does spices, grapes cool but apples don't.
Any ideas.
 
JohnSat said:
Hi I pre-diabetic and been having gum problems for a while now and have just started a very expensive course of treatment with a new dentist. A couple of weeks before my visit I noticed a sensation in my mouth a bit like burnt lips. Dentist doesn't think it's related to my gum disease and suggested I get my B12 levels checked.
Has anyone else had similar problems I find that mouth wash burns as does spices, grapes cool but apples don't.
Any ideas.
Click to expand...
Hi. I've just returned here as I'm suffering from burning mouth syndrome. Have had it for 5 months and have tried everything GP and Dentist suggest. Did your symptoms go away? What helped you if anything? This is driving me crazy.
 
Hi @Irish Maeve

I get burning mouth syndrome at times, and agree it's horrible. Two of the triggers for me are melon and kiwi. I stopped eating them but always suffered really badly after dental visits, and couldn't work out why, then realised they were using a melon flavoured fluoride treatment. Now have mint or butterscotch flavoured one and am ok.
 
I get it with Pine Nuts and very strong cheese . Just don't eat them now.
 
Hopeful34 said:
Hi @Irish Maeve

I get burning mouth syndrome at times, and agree it's horrible. Two of the triggers for me are melon and kiwi. I stopped eating them but always suffered really badly after dental visits, and couldn't work out why, then realised they were using a melon flavoured fluoride treatment. Now have mint or butterscotch flavoured one and am ok.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for reply. I can't eat any of my usual food, can't use any toothpaste at all just using water. I initially burned my mouth on hot soup. My tongue was covered in ulcers following that. Eased off but keeps returning. My face and lips swell. Got dentist to file a few back teeth down as feel my teeth are all rough. Five months of it now! Was told there's no cure. Grasping at straws now, sorry.
 
Thank you. I think mine has gone beyond being allergic to a few things unfortunately. Its a case of try to eat anything and if it doesn't hurt add to allowed list. Most hot, spicy, salty, sweet food is off the menu. I can eat porridge, potatoes, eggs, ham, salad stuff without any dressing. Losing weight dramatically!
 
Yes I have had burning mouth syndrome twice. Both times were due to a B12 deficiency. My doctor gave me a B12 injection which cured the problem. I refuse to take Metformin now as that drug is known to deplete B12 reserves.
 
Some possibilities: the skin in our mouths takes a long time to recover from a burn, and due to so many nerves in there, even a small area of soreness can feel huge

B12 deficiency

Low level oral thrush. It doesn't always have white flecks, it can just feel sore.

Some blood pressure meds can cause burning mouth syndrome, as can neuropathy.

I hope things improve for you soon.
 
zand said:
Yes I have had burning mouth syndrome twice. Both times were due to a B12 deficiency. My doctor gave me a B12 injection which cured the problem. I refuse to take Metformin now as that drug is known to deplete B12 reserves.
Click to expand...
I've had bloods done for all sorts including B12 plus Thyroid etc. Nothing found. I'm taking a course of antihistamine as it might be an allergy. Also trying ACV in water recommended on Earth Clinic. I take Metformin (2), Sitagliptin(1), Gliclazide(2) per day. Bloods always high except when I'm really hungry. Sorry for length of post.
 
lucylocket61 said:
Some possibilities: the skin in our mouths takes a long time to recover from a burn, and due to so many nerves in there, even a small area of soreness can feel huge

B12 deficiency

Low level oral thrush. It doesn't always have white flecks, it can just feel sore.

Some blood pressure meds can cause burning mouth syndrome, as can neuropathy.

I hope things improve for you soon.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much x
 
Irish Maeve said:
I've had bloods done for all sorts including B12 plus Thyroid etc. Nothing found. I'm taking a course of antihistamine as it might be an allergy. Also trying ACV in water recommended on Earth Clinic. I take Metformin (2), Sitagliptin(1), Gliclazide(2) per day. Bloods always high except when I'm really hungry. Sorry for length of post.
Click to expand...
Bee propolis also gives me similar symptoms as I discovered when the lozenges I normally use when I have a sore throat changed to a 'new improved' recipe.
 
Irish Maeve said:
I've had bloods done for all sorts including B12 plus Thyroid etc. Nothing found. I'm taking a course of antihistamine as it might be an allergy. Also trying ACV in water recommended on Earth Clinic. I take Metformin (2), Sitagliptin(1), Gliclazide(2) per day. Bloods always high except when I'm really hungry. Sorry for length of post.
Click to expand...
Were these blood tests done by your GP surgery?
I had two B12 tests done privately by finger prick tests at home. Both showed an average level of B12. Both were wrong, I was deficient.
 
Hi,

My wife has what sounds like the same condition. After numerous visits to dentist, GP, hospital she was finally diagnosed with lichen striatus.

She was very recently prescribed some meds by the hospital but not yet got them. She has been managing by cutting out the offending foods, salt, spicy, sharp juicy etc, but is hoping the meds will help.

It does seem to come and go in waves.

Don't know if this will help, but dropping it into conversation with your GP might result in a referral.

Obviously it's not life threatening, but having seen how it affects my wife it is quite debilitating.

I have just been reminded that she has also switched her toothpaste to Zendium. It's a totally additive free thing - the more they remove the more it costs - be aware! But she is convinced it helps.
 
barrym said:
Hi,

My wife has what sounds like the same condition. After numerous visits to dentist, GP, hospital she was finally diagnosed with lichen striatus.

She was very recently prescribed some meds by the hospital but not yet got them. She has been managing by cutting out the offending foods, salt, spicy, sharp juicy etc, but is hoping the meds will help.

It does seem to come and go in waves.

Don't know if this will help, but dropping it into conversation with your GP might result in a referral.

Obviously it's not life threatening, but having seen how it affects my wife it is quite debilitating.

I have just been reminded that she has also switched her toothpaste to Zendium. It's a totally additive free thing - the more they remove the more it costs - be aware! But she is convinced it helps.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the info. I can relate to how distressing it is. I talked to my GP. I am actually seeing ENT, gastroenterologist and neurologist. Is she taking any meds for anxiety? I’m about to start. Just started taking Pepsid, in case it’s GERD. My throat burns. I hope your wife improves.
 
Last edited:
A few years ago (shortly after my first COVID infection) I developed a stinging in my gums and palate, and the pain would move around different parts of my mouth from day to day. At first I was convinced there was a dental issue, but scans and checks couldn't find anything wrong with my teeth or gums. I read about burning mouth syndrome and that alpha lipoic acid (ALA) might help, and started taking it as a supplement.

The problem went away entirely after a couple of months. I have no idea if the ALA did anything or it would have gone away on it's own. It's cheap though and from what I could gather fairly safe, so maybe worth trying.
 
barrym said:
Hi,

My wife has what sounds like the same condition. After numerous visits to dentist, GP, hospital she was finally diagnosed with lichen striatus.

She was very recently prescribed some meds by the hospital but not yet got them. She has been managing by cutting out the offending foods, salt, spicy, sharp juicy etc, but is hoping the meds will help.

It does seem to come and go in waves.

Don't know if this will help, but dropping it into conversation with your GP might result in a referral.

Obviously it's not life threatening, but having seen how it affects my wife it is quite debilitating.

I have just been reminded that she has also switched her toothpaste to Zendium. It's a totally additive free thing - the more they remove the more it costs - be aware! But she is convinced it helps.
Click to expand...
How odd! Reading through I was just going to reply re checking out lichen planus, my sister has suffered with it for about 2yrs. Sounds very similar to what others have described too. Her dentist sent her to maxillofacial & he suggested a few things, one being a mouthwash, but to try & cut out the triggers, but they can change. After some trial & error she found some toothpaste that helps too. That was with the help of Google, I believe.
 
Westley said:
A few years ago (shortly after my first COVID infection) I developed a stinging in my gums and palate, and the pain would move around different parts of my mouth from day to day. At first I was convinced there was a dental issue, but scans and checks couldn't find anything wrong with my teeth or gums. I read about burning mouth syndrome and that alpha lipoic acid (ALA) might help, and started taking it as a supplement.

The problem went away entirely after a couple of months. I have no idea if the ALA did anything or it would have gone away on it's own. It's cheap though and from what I could gather fairly safe, so maybe worth trying.
Click to expand...
Do you wear a Libre CGM? If so, have you found that the ALA affects the readings at all. I was taking ALA but stopped when I got my Libre as there was some concern over false high readings (as with taking Vitamin C).
 
Prancy said:
I appreciate the info. I can relate to how distressing it is. I talked to my GP. I am actually seeing ENT, gastroenterologist and neurologist. Is she taking any meds for anxiety? I’m about to start. Just started taking Pepsid, in case it’s GERD. My throat burns. I hope your wife improves.
Click to expand...
She doesn't take anything at all! Very rarely can I persuade her to take a paracetamol! :-)

I don't know if I stressed it enough, but she is pretty well back to normal with the 'specialist' toothpaste and careful choice of diet. Not too many things on the banned list now so not too much of a hardship.

HTH
 
Back
Top