... the dentist punctured my maxillary sinus, exposed the bone and I fought a two month infection with many antibiotics and steroids. All of a sudden after infection healed, my tongue and roof of mouth burn so badly I am currenly on pain pills short term with the most devastating pain I have ever had. I can't even stand to get out of bed except to eat (cold) food. Anyone have any tried and true cures? Obviously I can't stay on vicodin. Thank you
I have just been diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome after root canal and crown on two teeth where
Question posted by JanaLauren on 21 Feb 2010
Last updated on 17 January 2013 by richardellis1
5 Answers
richardellis1
17 Jan 2013
I hope my treatment works for your situatuion. My BMS may have been caused by Type II diabeties and has been with me since late 2009. But after visits to GP, Allergist, Dentists, Oral Surgeons and biopsies and no definitive answers, except "it's not cancerous but could become that way", my 2010 internet search lead me to "Dermatology Whiz" Dr. R. Rogers. Gee, Dermatology--no one (Dr.) thought of that one! Dr. R. Rogers has lead and participated in many tests of BMS and discover Aplha Lipoic Acid was not a cure but relief of symptoms(in my case: mouth inflamation, deep tongue ulcers (could become cancerous), burning secretion, lost voice, and headaches with a temperature. I started 2010 with 600 mg ALA per day and am now up to 2400mg: 1200mg morning /1200mg evening. It Works! THANK YOU!!! DR. ROGERS!!! All of my symptoms are reduced and under control. Dr. Rogers said that ALA seems not to have any bad side effects on humans--so take as much as you need.
The only bad effect I have is urine that smells metallic--I can live with that.
Recently I started drinking two cups of Oolong tea per day. It coats the effected area of my mouth. And purportedly will reduce symptoms of dermatitis... still testing... hopeful. Good luck--these are low, low costs alternatives to high cost drugs. Lets us know if any one of the responses work for you.
ksuemarie
24 Sep 2011
That is just about how mine started, the docs put me on a combindation of Alprazolam and Venlafaxine... that combindation has been the only thing that keeps it at bay. Alprazolam is a form of xanax and the Venlafaxine is generic for effexor which is a antidepressent, which I was against at first. But both my dentist and doctor agreed with this combindation and it worked for me.
ksuemarie
30 Sep 2011
Hello everyone! It looks like someone was trying to get a hold of me regarding informtion they wanted to give me on Burning Mouth and they do not have a name. It was back in June when they poste the note... sorry I was on Jury duty for 7 weeks... no internet during that time. My symptoms are better. I do believe it is the Xanax... I am weaning myself off of the Efexor (mispelled I beleive)... any way Xanax is what helps with me and taking meds for acid reflux... I believe that was part of the issue as well. Anyway if that person still wants to get a hold of me please post a note and I will keep checking to see if your there. Thanks again everyone that has listened... we all need know that your not alone in this. Take care and Bless you all!
SLockwich
1 Aug 2012
I have been suffering from Burning Mouth Syndrome for the past 9 years. I have been to a myriad of specialists and have tried different medications, to include, oxycodone, neurontin & morphine. Could you please tell me the dosage and how many times a day your Xanax and Effexor was prescribed? I thank you for your attention to this message and wish you all the very best in your BMS treatment.
lanar1026
11 Aug 2012
I was diagnosed with burning mouth a little over a year ago. I am allergic to narcotics except for tramadol and that doesn't even touch the pain. The medicine my doc prescribed that helps the most is called magic mouth wash. It only helps for about 10 minutes, but that is long enough to be able to eat without such severe pain. Even though the taste is nasty, I love this med! My burning mouth is always there, but sometimes it subsides a little. I can't drink carbonated beverages or eat spicy foods for the pain. My doc and dentist think mine was triggered from all the meds I have had to take for the last few years because of Trigeminal Neuralgia. They aren't sure though. I really don't want to take any meds that are addictive anyway. Xanax is one of the hardest pills to come off, so please, please be careful when you decide on a treatment plan with your doc. Good luck to you! I also use little kid toothpaste because regular kinds really hurt.
Shelby123
14 Jan 2013
Did this combination stop the burning quickly or did it need some time to get better?
Suzanne mc
13 July 2011
In my case I've had burning tongue severly for 3years and finding no relief even in the form of hydrocodone. Also seen 14 docs including 5 nueroligics. Accidentally I ended up in ER with panic attack and was prescribed Xanax which immediately took the pain away. I would certainly look into benzo type medicine because it does work for some people. I took myself off hydrocodone and even though withdrawal was unpleasant it was never as bad as the tongue that felt like I was chewing hot jalepenos ALL the time. Good Luck!!!
IB MIKE
24 July 2011
When you say you were prescribed Xanax and it took the pain away please explain I've never herd of Xanax helping physical pain relaxing from a panic attack or anxiety yes but for pain?
Suzanne mc
24 July 2011
To IMike - all I can say is burning month CAN be related to an anxiety disorder which I didn't even know I could have had! Xanax has completely relieved my symptoms. Look up symptoms of anxiety disorder and one of them is burning month. I probably tried 15 different Meds with zero relief and I even had brain surgery to sever certain nerves! Gabapentin did not help but was only on 600 mgs daily and I hear it takes up to 3600 mgs to be effective!
hjtan
20 Sep 2011
I agreed with Suzzanne mc, I suffered tongue pain for 4 months, and once I took Xanax, the pain went away. My doc has treated patient with burning tongue syndrome with real neurological damage, he said that the pain wouldn't go away by taking Xanax. If after taking Xanax the pain will go away, then it is anxiety that caused the burning sensation on the tongue, in this case, it is not Burning Tongue/Mouth syndrome which was caused by nerve damage- don't be frightened and be too hasty to conclude you are suffering from BMS that was caused nerve problems.
Suzanne mc
20 Sep 2011
To HJTAN - glad to hear Xanax has helped. I was beginning to think I was the only one out there!
Shelby123
13 Jan 2013
I developed burning mouth about a year ago. I was having anxiety issues which caused GERD. I never heard of Burning mouth syndrome and I thought it had something to do with the GERD. After trying many antidepressant and not being able tolerate any I switched P-docs and was told I was never on enough Xanax to make my anxiety go away and all the AD's were making me worse. I am only on 1.5mg Xanax per day for 2 months and I still having issues with my mouth burning. Still having breakthrough anxiety in the mornings so I may need more xanax. How long after you took the xanax did your burning stop? Were you having anxiety problems when your BMS started. Any info appreciated. Thanks
Suzanne mc
14 Jan 2013
Hi Shelby123. I am truly sorry you have BMS because it is really hard to treat. The causes can be really hard to diagnose and even harder to successfully treat. Xanax has helped and with me it helped with the first pill. I have been on 3 a day for over a year. The relief I felt at first as diminished and the doc has started me on amitriptyline. Several people on this site have been helped by this drug. I have been on it for 3 weeks and it hasn"t helped much yet but they say it takes 4-5 weeks to start working. I'll comment again if it helps. Good luck because with condition you will need it!
bonniesg
13 July 2011
Try Neurontin. I have had tremendous relief after years of suffering and trying everything I have found on the internet. Ask your doctor about this medication.
itsmetoo2
22 Feb 2010
I did find this on the net and felt this just might help you.
Treatment
Treatment triggers improvement in symptoms for many people with burning mouth syndrome. But the type of treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Dry mouth (xerostomia). Treating the cause of your dry mouth — Sjogren's syndrome, use of medications or some other cause — may relieve burning mouth symptoms. Drinking more fluids or taking a medication that promotes flow of saliva may help.
Other oral conditions. If the cause is oral thrush, treatment is with oral antifungal medications such as nystatin (Mycostatin) or fluconazole (Diflucan). If you wear dentures, your dentures may also need to be treated.
Psychological factors. For a burning mouth that may be caused by or associated with psychological factors such as anxiety and depression, your doctor may recommend tricyclic antidepressants or benzodiazepines, or psychiatric therapy, or both together.
Nutritional deficiencies. You may be able to correct nutritional deficiencies by taking supplements of B vitamins and minerals such as zinc and iron.
Irritating dentures. Your dentist may be able to adjust your dentures so they are less irritating to your mouth. If your dentures contain substances that irritate your oral tissues, you may need different dentures. You may also improve symptoms by practicing good denture care, such as removing dentures at night and cleaning them properly.
Nerve disturbance or damage (neuropathy). Your doctor may suggest medications that affect your nervous system and control pain, including benzodiazepines such as clonazepam (Klonopin), tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), or anticonvulsants such as gabapentin (Neurontin). For pain relief, your doctor may also suggest rinsing your mouth with water and capsaicin — the active ingredient in hot peppers, which may also be called capsicum.
Allergies. Avoiding foods that contain allergens that may irritate the tissues of your mouth may help.
Certain medications. If a medication you're taking is causing a burning mouth, using a substitute medication, if possible, may help.
Oral habits. Tongue-thrusting and teeth-clenching (bruxism) can be helped with mouth guards, medications and relaxation techniques.
Endocrine disorders. If a burning mouth is associated with conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism, treating those conditions may improve your symptoms.
If doctors can't identify the cause of your symptoms, they may still recommend trying oral thrush medications, B vitamins or antidepressants. These medications have proved effective in treating burning mouth syndrome.
Coping skills
Burning mouth syndrome can be painful and frustrating. The good news is that it's a treatable condition. Although it may take time, you can usually improve your symptoms by working with a team of health professionals to find a treatment plan that's right for you.
In the short term, you may gain some relief by avoiding irritating substances, such as alcohol-based mouthwashes, cinnamon or mint products, and cigarette smoke. Chewing on ice chips or sugar-free gum also may help. So can keeping your dentures out all night and brushing your teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste. Ask your doctor for other tips to manage your pain and discomfort.
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infections, burning mouth syndrome
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