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Burning tongue: causes and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Tongue burning is a sensation that some people have, which can have the characteristic of lasting a few minutes and being infrequent, or it can occur throughout the day and every day, depending on what is causing it, and can be explained in irritation of the tongue or some systemic disease. Often, the burning is not very strong, and people ignore it until it is no longer present, but at other times, it can even prevent the consumption of certain foods. In this FastlyHealarticle, we will deal with the topic of burning in the tongue: causes and treatment to have a better understanding of why it occurs and have the knowledge of what you can do to alleviate the symptoms.

Burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is a condition suffered by some people, usually women, after menopause; that is characterized by a burning sensation on the tongue and other parts of the mouth, such as the lips, cheeks, and roof of the mouth. Burning can last all day or be intermittent. It can be classified as primary when its appearance cannot be explained by some other condition and is usually related to an alteration of the nerves of the tongue, or secondary when it appears as a consequence of the presence in the mouth of another condition that makes it susceptible, among which can be found those described in the following sections.

Geographic language

Also called migratory glossitis, geographic tongue is a condition in which there are areas devoid of papillae on the tongue that can be of different sizes and sensitive to stimuli such as temperature or seasonings. Its cause is unknown, but it has been linked to vitamin deficiencies, stress, and allergic reactions.

Dry mouth and itchy tongue

Among the functions of saliva is to lubricate the tongue and all the mouth tissues. When there is some alteration that decreases the levels of saliva production, the tissues become sensitive to irritation, which can manifest as burning. Dry mouth tends to occur, for example, in patients suffering from certain diseases, such as:

  • the diabetes
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • People who use antidepressants
  • People who use diuretics
  • People who use antihypertensive drugs
  • By aging
  • In stressful situations

Itchy tongue due to an allergic reaction

When the mouth is in contact with a product or food to which a person is allergic, it can cause a local reaction with symptoms such as inflammation, itching, and burning. The most common culprit is food such as nuts or some fruit, but allergic reactions can also be caused by contact with some material used in dentistry.

Other causes of burning tongue

  • The deficiency of the B complex has been linked many times with different types of diseases that affect the mucous membranes of the mouth that produce a burning sensation in the mouth and the feeling of a burned tongue.
  • epillado excessive or habits related to biting or moving the tongue on the teeth can create erosion zones in the language, which are more sensitive.
  • GERD can also cause a burning mouth because when acids reach the mouth can injure the mucosa and leave sensitive.
  • People who suffer from oral thrush may have regions of the tongue awake by removing the whitish plaques that form on the tongue, which is usually very sensitive.

Tongue burning: home remedies

Some of the general recommendations to decrease the frequency and alleviate the symptoms of burning tongue are the following:

  • Rinse with plenty of cold water
  • Put ice cubes in your mouth.
  • Avoid smoking
  • Avoid acidic or spicy foods.
  • Do not use rinses that contain alcohol.

When the cause of burning is burning mouth syndrome, the use of anxiolytics, antidepressants, and the like is generally indicated, in addition to the use of lubricating substances and stimulants of salivary secretion.

It is necessary to determine the cause of the burning tongue since avoiding this stimulus or treating the condition that produced it is essential to prevent another episode of burning tongue. For example, a person with a dry mouth who suspects that they may have diabetes should see an endocrinologist for appropriate treatment.

Avoiding foods that cause allergic reactions and warning your dentist of the substances to which you are susceptible is essential to prevent this condition and others much more seriously.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Burning in the tongue: causes and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Teeth and mouth .

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