Taste function in patients with oral burning. (1/52)

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an oral pain disorder occurring primarily in post-menopausal women and is frequently accompanied by taste complaints. This association of symptoms suggests an interaction between the mechanisms of nociception and gustation, two senses with strong hedonic components. Seventy-three patients of the Taste and Smell Clinic at the University of Connecticut Health Center who reported experiencing 'unexplained oral burning' were evaluated for taste function. Both intensity ratings and quality identifications were measured for a concentration series of sucrose ('sweet'), NaCl ('salty'), citric acid ('sour') and quinine-HCl ('bitter'). The 57 women with BMS gave lower intensity ratings to NaCl and sucrose than comparably aged, same sex controls. Concentrations of NaCl and sucrose >0.10 M were most affected; concentrations of sucrose and NaCl <0.10 M were rated similarly by BMS and control women. No intensity differences were found for citric acid or quinine-HCl at any concentration and no differences were evident between the 16 BMS men and the 14 control men for any stimulus. The BMS women also misidentified the quality of 19% of the stimuli that were detected whereas control women misidentified 8%. Both groups detected a similar proportion of stimuli and found lower stimulus concentrations more difficult to identify than higher concentrations. Identification of NaCl as 'salty' and citric acid as 'sour' was particularly difficult for BMS women. The present findings are consistent with the hypothesis that pain pathway activation may affect neural and behavioral taste function.  (+info)

Burning mouth syndrome. (2/52)

Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue or other oral sites, usually in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings. Affected patients often present with multiple oral complaints, including burning, dryness and taste alterations. Burning mouth complaints are reported more often in women, especially after menopause. Typically, patients awaken without pain but note increasing symptoms through the day and into the evening. Conditions that have been reported in association with burning mouth syndrome include chronic anxiety or depression, various nutritional deficiencies, type 2 diabetes (formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes) and changes in salivary function. However, these conditions have not been consistently linked with the syndrome, and their treatment has had little impact on burning mouth symptoms. Recent studies have pointed to dysfunction of several cranial nerves associated with taste sensation as a possible cause of burning mouth syndrome. Given in low dosages, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants may be effective in patients with burning mouth syndrome. Topical capsaicin has been used in some patients.  (+info)

Burning mouth and saliva. (3/52)

Stomatodynia is the complaint of burning, tickling or itching of the oral cavity, and can be associated with other oral and non-oral signs and symptoms. However, the oral mucosa often appears normal, with no apparent underlying organic cause to account for the symptomatology. The etiology is unknown, though evidence points to the participation of numerous local, systemic and psychological factors. Among the local factors, saliva may play an important role in the symptoms of burning mouth. Saliva possesses specific rheological properties as a result of its chemical, physical and biological characteristics - these properties being essential for maintaining balanced conditions within the oral cavity. Patients with burning mouth present evidence of changes in salivary composition and flow, as well as a probable alteration in the oral mucosal sensory perception related particularly to dry mouth and taste alterations. On the other hand, alterations in salivary composition appear to reflect on its viscosity and symptomatology of burning mouth. Saliva is a field open to much research related to burning mouth, and knowledge of its properties (e.g., viscosity) merits special attention in view of its apparent relationship to the symptoms of burning mouth. The present study describes our clinical experience with burning mouth, and discusses some of the aspects pointing to salivary alterations as one of the most important factors underlying stomatodynia.  (+info)

Burning mouth syndrome in the Basque Country: a preliminary study of 30 cases. (4/52)

OBJECTIVES: To know the most important clinical features of Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) in our environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of 30 BMS patients, 29 female and 1 male, with a mean age of 60.2 years (range 37-89), was made. A previously designed clinical protocol, including blood counts, levadure culture, oral pH measurement and non-stimulated salivary flow rate, was completed by all patients. Comparative and descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The Chi-square test was applied (p< 0.05). RESULTS: Moreover of a burning sensation, 60 % of patients presented oral dryness and 60 % dysgeusia. The tongue was the most frequent site affected of burning sensation (66.7 %). Type II of BMS was the most common (53.3%). In women, 82.9 % were postmenopausal. A 13.3 % of patients suffered type II Diabetes, 6.7 % vitamin deficiency and 56.6 % used xerostomy-inducer medication. The 56.6 % of patients showed chronic anxiety and/or depression. The 46.7 % had a deficient oral hygiene level and 44.4 % wore inadequate dentures. Salivary flow rate was decreased in 50 % of patients. Significant levadure growth was not detected in any case. CONCLUSIONS: BMS patients in our environment are principally postmenopausal women, with tongue burning, xerostomy, dysgeusia and chronic anxiety and/or depression.  (+info)

Bucco-dental problems in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (I) : Index of plaque and dental caries. (5/52)

Diabetes mellitus is presently considered as one of the most frequent chronic disease, thus, it is important to know what its most relevant buccal disorders are. OBJECTIVES: Study the different signs and symptoms that diabetic patients present in the oral cavity. Assess the status of oral hygiene and prevalence of dental caries in a diabetic population in regards to a control population. STUDY DESIGN: We have performed the study on 70 diabetic patients (30 men and 40 women) whose ages ranged from 11 to 81 years, and a control population of 74 non-diabetic (29 men and 45 women) whose ages ranged from 11 to 75 years. Within the diabetic population, the type of diabetes, degree of control of their disease by glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetes evolution time and existence of late complications were assessed. Oral hygiene was measured with the O'Leary plaque index. The prevalence of caries was studied with the CAOD index. RESULTS: The oral hygiene status was significantly worse in the diabetic patients in regards to the controls after 56 years of age. We did not find any significant differences in the prevalence of caries or in the CAOD index, although this was slightly higher in the diabetic patients. The study of the diabetic patients showed that only the type and evolution of their disease were significant parameters in relationship to the number of caries, while no significance was found on the plaque index for any of the parameters analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we have observed a larger number of dental absences in the diabetic population in regards to a healthy population. We have found no differences in the number of caries, absences and obturations based on metabolic control, evolution time and existence of late complications of diabetes.  (+info)

Update on burning mouth syndrome: overview and patient management. (6/52)

Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain syndrome that mainly affects middle-aged/old women with hormonal changes or psychological disorders. This condition is probably of multifactorial origin, often idiopathic, and its etiopathogenesis remains largely enigmatic. The present paper discusses several aspects of BMS, updates current knowledge, and provides guidelines for patient management. There is no consensus on the diagnosis and classification of BMS. The etiopathogenesis seems to be complex and in a large number of patients probably involves interactions among local, systemic, and/or psychogenic factors. In the remaining cases, new interesting associations have recently emerged between BMS and either peripheral nerve damage or dopaminergic system disorders, emphasizing the neuropathic background in BMS. Based on these recent data, we have introduced the concepts of "primary" (idiopathic) and "secondary" (resulting from identified precipitating factors) BMS, since this allows for a more systematic approach to patient management. The latter starts with a differential diagnosis based on the exclusion of both other orofacial chronic pain conditions and painful oral diseases exhibiting muco-sal lesions. However, the occurrence of overlapping/overwhelming oral mucosal pathologies, such as infections, may cause difficulties in the diagnosis ("complicated BMS"). BMS treatment is still unsatisfactory, and there is no definitive cure. As a result, a multidisciplinary approach is required to bring the condition under better control. Importantly, BMS patients should be offered regular follow-up during the symptomatic periods and psychological support for alleviating the psychogenic component of the pain. More research is necessary to confirm the association between BMS and systemic disorders, as well as to investigate possible pathogenic mechanisms involving potential nerve damage. If this goal is to be achieved, a uniform definition of BMS and strict criteria for its classification are mandatory.  (+info)

Association between psychological disorders and the presence of Oral lichen planus, Burning mouth syndrome and Recurrent aphthous stomatitis. (7/52)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the existing relation between the Oral Lichen Planus (OLP), Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS), Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) and psychological alterations of the patient, such as stress, anxiety and depression. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: 18 patients with RAS, 9 patients with OLP and 7 patients with BMS, that presented the condition at the moment of the examination, were studied, as well as a control group of 20 healthy patients. Both groups were extracted of hospitals and university centers, where the clinical diagnosis was made by a team of oral pathologists. Two measuring instruments were applied to them about their psychological condition: the Test of Recent Experience, to measure the stress level and scale H.A.D., to determine the level of anxiety and depression; the score given by them were statistically analyzed through T-test and the ANOVA Tukey test. RESULTS: Our results suggested a statistically significant association between these psychological disorders and the diseases of the oral mucosa in study. It was observed that the stress level is greater in patients with RAS and OLP, depression is particularly high in patients with BMS, and levels of anxiety are raised in the three groups, in comparison with the group control. CONCLUSIONS: A positive relationship can be established between psychological alterations and RAS, OLP and BMS. The RAS and the OLP stress and anxiety levels were considered as high, whereas the BMS was more related to important levels of anxiety and depression. According to these findings it is possible to assume that psychological factors should be taking into account when oral health wants to be maintain as normal.  (+info)

Burning Mouth Syndrome: open trial of psychotherapy alone, medication with alpha-lipoic acid (thioctic acid), and combination therapy. (8/52)

OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: This open study of 192 otherwise healthy persons with burning mouth syndrome, examined the efficacy on control of symptoms of psychotherapy alone with two hour sessions weekly for two months; alpha lipoic acid (ALA, tioctic acid; Tiobec) 600 mg/day alone for two months; or combination therapy of psychoanalysis and 600 mg/day ALA for two months. Controls received placebo alone. RESULTS: Most benefit was obtained with combination therapy. Combination therapy of psychoanalysis and alpha lipoic acid (ALA, tioctic acid; Tiobec. 600 mg/day) for two months gave most benefit and significantly more than psychoanalysis alone for two 1 hour sessions weekly for two months (p<0.0005), or ALA 600 mg/day alone for two months (p<0.0005). CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that alpha lipoic acid may complement psychotherapy and can be an acceptable alternative to psychoactive agents, but trials to compare the two approaches are now warranted.  (+info)

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