Burning tongue syndrome
Burning tongue syndrome is a persistent burning or tingling mouth sensation without an obvious visible cause, diagnosed after other causes are checked.
The short answer
Burning tongue syndrome, also called burning mouth syndrome when several oral sites are involved, causes burning, scalding, tingling, dryness, or altered taste without a matching visible lesion. It is a diagnosis made after checking for local, medication-related, nutritional, hormonal, nerve, and medical causes.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
The tongue may look normal even though the sensory nerves are producing an abnormal burning signal. Similar symptoms can come from thrush, dry mouth, reflux, contact irritation, anaemia or nutrient deficiency, diabetes, ill-fitting dentures, or a painful lesion, so the label should not be assumed at the first visit.
What can you do next?
Use plain water or non-irritating drinks, avoid tobacco, alcohol, very spicy foods, and strongly flavoured mouth products, and keep dentures clean and correctly fitted. Note when symptoms start, what foods trigger them, medicines taken, dry-mouth symptoms, and any taste change.
When should you seek dental care?
Arrange an oral examination when burning lasts, recurs, or affects eating, sleep, or speaking. Seek prompt care for a new ulcer, lump, bleeding patch, numbness, unexplained weight loss, or a red or white area that does not settle.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask which examination, swabs, blood tests, medication review, or denture checks are appropriate. Ask whether dryness, reflux, infection, allergy, deficiency, nerve sensitivity, or another condition could explain the symptoms and what treatment can target the identified cause.
Frequently asked questions
Is burning tongue caused by an infection?
It can be, but infection is only one possibility and examination or testing may be needed to distinguish it from other causes.
Can stress cause a burning mouth?
Stress can influence symptom perception and muscle habits, but persistent burning still merits an assessment for physical causes.