Can you imagine a world where your mouth feels like it's on fire? The pain is something you can't escape never mind not being able to eat or drink the food and beverages you once enjoyed.
"Sometimes the pain is excruciating," says Elizabeth LePage, who suffers from a condition called Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). "To the point where I want to throw up."
BMS is the medical term for ongoing (chronic) or recurrent burning in the mouth without an obvious cause. The discomfort may affect your tongue, gums, lips, inside of your cheeks, roof of your mouth or widespread areas of your whole mouth. BMS appears suddenly and can be severe, as if you scalded your mouth. It can be described as a neuropathic pain where the nerves in the mouth are not functioning properly.
Not much is known about BMS as it's often underdiagnosed and its management complex. Some studies show that 40% of those diagnosed are elderly people, mostly post-menopausal women, and they also show that people with BMS may experience a decrease in quality of life and an increase in psychological distress.
Elizabeth was originally diagnosed with Thrush―a medical condition in which a fungus called Candida albicans overgrows in the mouth and throat.
After taking medication prescribed for Thrush, there were no changes in her condition. A couple of more visits to her doctor and denturist resulted in a referral to an oral pathologist―Dr. Tim McGaw, at the University of Alberta, School of Dentistry. McGaw took swabs from Elizabeth's tongue and top of mouth and sent them to the lab. This ruled out any persistent candidiasis and, after excluding other local or systemic causes of secondary burning symptoms of the mouth, in November 2014, a diagnosis of BMS was rendered and a treatment plan was prescribed.
Dr. Reid Friesen, School of Dentistry, Oral Medicine program resident, is currently conducting research on a new treatment-one, he hopes, is more effective.
To this day, Elizabeth follows a regimented routine of topical clonazepam―one of the methods of treatments that are sometimes effective. She also is very careful in what she eats and drinks avoiding things like wine and spicy foods.
Conditions like this demonstrate that your oral health is part of your overall health and should not be ignored. If you think something isn't right in your mouth, maybe not your teeth, but the inside of your mouth, go see a dentist, oral pathologist, or dental hygienist. They all can prove to be a valuable resource in your healthcare needs.
If you are interested in the Burning Mouth Syndrome research trial, please contact 780-407-5561 or email rtfriese@ualberta.ca with the subject line: Burning Mouth Syndrome Research. Before the trial begins, you will be screened to determine eligibility.