Burning Tongue Syndrome -
Causes and Treatments

By dentist Dr. Richard Mitchell

Burning tongue syndrome causes a burning sensation in your tongue. It can be part of "burning mouth syndrome", where your whole mouth including gums, lips, cheeks and palate are affected. OR it can just affect your tongue, and nothing else.

The discomfort caused by burning tongue syndrome and burning mouth syndrome can be quite bad.

It can feel as if you have scalded your tongue or mouth with boiling water, or just eaten some REALLY hot chilli sauce. And that's just when you're sitting doing nothing.

If you try to eat or drink anything, the discomfort gets worse. The only exception is usually cold water.

For some reason, Women tend to be around 7 times more likely than men to suffer with this condition. There seems to be a hormonal connection here, as it occurs most frequently in women just before the menopause. But it CAN occur at any age, and in men as well as women.

Burning Tongue Syndrome

The burning sensation can last for some months, and occasionally for years. In most cases, the burning sensation starts sometime before midday, gets worse as the day goes by, and then starts to ease off in the late evening. You can also get a tingling sensation or a numbness in the tongue, with a bitter, metallic taste.

The tongue looks normal, and there is no obvious abnormal appearance. The tongue does NOT look red, nor particularly inflamed.

Causes of burning tongue syndrome can include:

  • A dry mouth as a result of diabetes, some medications, or Sjogren's syndrome.
  • Some Vitamin B deficiencies.
  • Tongue infections.
  • Allergies to certain toothpastes or foods.
  • Geographic tongue.
  • Inflammatory disorders, such as Sjogren's syndome.
  • Gastric acid reflux.
  • Badly-fitting dentures.

For many people, the exact cause cannot be pin-pointed. This can be extremely frustrating, as it makes any treatment very difficult. It is quite common for sufferers of burning tongue sensations to also have anxiety and depression, although it is not clear if this is a possible cause of the burning syndrome, or a result of the constant discomfort from the syndrome.

Recent research has shown some links between burning tongue syndrome and a particular ingredient in nearly all toothpastes on sale. It's called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and it's added to toothpastes to make them foam up and frothy. But in some people it can trigger a burning tongue sensation, as well as ulcers or canker sores.

SO, the simplest thing to try first is a Sodium-Lauryl-Sulfate FREE toothpaste!

The best toothpaste that does NOT contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is from TheraBreath. I recommend the  standard TheraBreath toothpaste available from Amazon.

BUT you have to use the TheraBreath mouthwash too, after brushing, for the best results. Have a look at the TheraBreath Oral Rinse.

Your doctor or dentist can also carry out some tests to try to identify any other possible causes. They will be looking for evidence of any vitamin deficiencies, of any infections in your mouth, and for any evidence of allergies to denture base materials, fillings, or food intolerances.

Treatment for the sensation of burning tongue will be concentrated on any possible causes that have been identified, for example making new dentures if the existing ones are found to be ill-fitting or contain something that you are allergic to.

Medications can be used to treat a dry mouth, treat any mouth infections, relieve pain, and also reduce anxiety and depression.

My self-help tips include:

  • Sipping on cold water frequently
  • Sucking small ice cubes
  • Avoiding irritating substances such as mouthwashes containing alcohol, avoiding hot spicy foods, and foods high in acid such as citrus fruits. Some people find avoiding cinnamon and mint in any form helpful.
  • Chew sugar-free gum
  • Use plain baking soda for brushing your teeth, or a toothpaste that is free of SLS, Triclosan, and fluoride; the best one is HERE.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking in any form
  • Keeping your teeth and gums as clean as possible, using an effective toothbrush with a gentle action. The BEST brush would be the Cybersonic 3.

  • I also recommend trying a special aloe vera spray from Forever Living. Aloe vera has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, and is excellent for calming down the irritation and pain caused by Burning Tongue Syndrome. The spray I recommend is called Aloe First spray. Just spray 1 or 2 times directly onto the tongue, and repeat the application about every hour. You can read more about this HERE.

Burning Tongue Syndrome and burning mouth syndrome can be frustrating and strength-sapping disorders. However, with the help of health-care professionals, major relief from the worst symptoms can often be achieved.

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Page written by dentist Dr. Richard Mitchell  LinkedIn Profile

  1. Dental Health Advice
  2. Tongue Problems
  3. Burning Tongue