Burning mouth syndrome during menopause

A burning sensation in a normal oral mucosa is called burning mouth syndrome. It is more common in women than in men.

According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, Burning Mouth Syndrome occurs in about 2% of the population.

In menopause, the decrease in hormones can reduce saliva production, give a metallic taste inside the mouth, and trigger a burning sensation in the mouth. Some menopausal women also have an increased sensitivity to pain. The burning sensation in the mouth may be mild or severe. Some describe it as a feeling similar to eating food that is too hot or scalding. In milder cases, there may be tingling or numbness. It affects women between the 5th and 7th decade of their lives.

In postmenopausal women, burning mouth syndrome may be seen in 18–33% of women. After menopause, burning mouth syndrome may be caused by a drop in estrogen levels. This triggers a reduction in saliva secretion, metallic taste, and burning sensation. Additionally, one may experience increased sensitivity to pain.

Typically, the areas affected are - the tip of the tongue, lips, lateral sides of the tongue, and the palate. The burning sensation may be less in the morning and may increase after the first meal and may reach its peak by evening. The discomfort may aggravate further with hot food, when speaking or by stress. Hormone replacement therapy may relieve the symptoms in menopausal women. But more research is needed to confirm this.

*Source: Burning mouth syndrome during menopause | YouTube