What does this mean?
The burning arises from nerve endings in the oral mucosa. If there is a visible lesion the cause is usually there: a fungal infection, a sharp tooth edge or an ill-fitting denture. With nothing visible, dryness, nutritional deficiencies and certain systemic conditions are investigated.
For burning that lasts months with no cause found, there is a separate diagnosis: burning mouth syndrome. It is made only after other causes are ruled out, and its treatment follows a different path.
Where there is a visible cause, treatment targets it; where there is none, blood tests and a medication history come in.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Cut back on spicy, acidic and very hot food for a while
- Try a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate
- Stop using alcohol-based mouthwash; it increases the burning
- If you have a dry mouth, address that first
- A white or red patch alongside the burning
- A sore lasting more than two weeks
- Loss of sensation or numbness in the tongue
- Difficulty swallowing
Frequently asked questions
- Can burning be caused by stress?
- Stress can make it worse but is not a diagnosis on its own. Dryness, fungal overgrowth and deficiencies should be ruled out first.
- Which tests are requested?
- Iron, ferritin, B12, folate and blood sugar are usually reviewed, along with your list of medications.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.