[EMPATH64]

I've had BMS for 6 months, and I am 47 menopausal and had dentures in 7 months ago. Im in so much pain Im depressed. Please write to me-Thanks

[mrsD]

I looked this up on Google and found this dental site:

http://www.dentistry.com/conditions/...mouth-syndrome

I have seen many places on the net that low B12 levels can cause this too.

If you have not had B12 testing, I'd get that ASAP. Your level should be 400 or above. Many doctors call lower levels "normal" because the labs used haven't caught up with the new standards. This is terribly out of date... as the link in my thread below is for DOCTORS to learn new things and is dated 2003!

I have a B12 thread here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

It is suggested today that people 50 and over take B12 supplements because of the common incidence in older patients. B12 can be lost from taking acid blocking drugs every day for a long time, or use of metformin for type II diabetes.
People with autoimmune disease or gluten intolerance/celiac may also be low in B12 due to poor absorption.

There are also some studies showing triclosan in some dental pastes or other products may irritate the mouth as well. So check your labels.

[awz1]

Hi don't worry your not alone! Im 23 and have been suffering from this for over a year and its driving me insane. I hope you get well soon

[mariespeaks]

Naturopathic Doctors DO know what BMS is. Maybe not the cause, but they can help. I've tried all the above but find Alpha Lipoic Acid 2-3X daily (no less than 600mg in one day) has really helped. Not cured, but certainly made tolerable

[razzle51]

do oyu take Topamax ? I had it too and was taking Topamax . so got off the med and everything went back to normal

[mariespeaks]

57 year old woman with 8 months of burning mouth. After trying everything, Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements really worked. On a pain scale of 1 to 10 (10 being suicidal) I am now a 2. Very livable. I take 400mg capsules 3X daily. I'm also noticing that MSG is causing flair ups. I'm going to avoid anything with MSG in it, which unfortunately is about everything. I want to hear back from you after you try it for about a week or two. I noticed a difference in just a few days.

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by mariespeaks

57 year old woman with 8 months of burning mouth. After trying everything, Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements really worked. On a pain scale of 1 to 10 (10 being suicidal) I am now a 2. Very livable. I take 400mg capsules 3X daily. I'm also noticing that MSG is causing flair ups. I'm going to avoid anything with MSG in it, which unfortunately is about everything. I want to hear back from you after you try it for about a week or two. I noticed a difference in just a few days.

You might want to add biotin to that supplement ... best taken several hours after the lipoic acid. 5-10mg a day (which is a large dose) is most likely needed. Lipoic acid and biotin share the same transporters in the body and compete with each other.
Start at 5mg a day, and perhaps raise it if you feel you need the higher dose.

Here is more on biotin...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post883889-166.html

Biotin is relatively safe.... there is no upper toxic limit for it established by the FDA.

I get my biotin at Puritan's Pride... not expensive at all.

[rose_thorn98]

I am 39 female. Had 2 episodes with burning mouth a few years back, both time I took Diflucan and it went away within a few days. This time it didn't work. So, I'm going to try the ALA. How long did it take until you found it seemed to be working and at what dosage of it did you start with?

I am feeling so miserable and depressed with this. I've seen 3 dentists and my family doctor. I even work in the dental field and most doctors have NO idea how to treat this. I think its all about finding out your own treatment.

To those of you who are suffering from BMS: I am new to this site. I have been a BMS sufferer since 1996. My journey through this ailment has certainly been depressing. I have worried about amazingly serious diseases that I may have. I have been treated my family with coarseness because I could not get a handle on what was going on in my mouth. I went to see at least 9 different doctors - all of who could not tell me what was going on.

There were not any signs of distress in my mouth. Just once - I got a diagnoses of candida. I was overjoyed as I took the medication. It didn't do anything for my BMS. It was only after about a year of searching and just by luck I saw someone posting about his mouth burning that I starting learning about this HORRIBLE syndrome that I could learn what was going on with me. It is important that anyone suffering from this illness find the right information.
I felt overwhelming gratitude to that unknown guy - I, at least, had a name for what I had. I took this info to my dentist who did some deep research. I was then sent to the University of Minnesota Dentistry Department. They were amazing. And knew what it was (albeit just a little).

BMS is a multi-sectional problem.
For me, it was nutritional (B-12), nerve (I had a cervical fusion) and mental (STRESS). I was prescribed Klonopin (small dose). It was a GOD-SEND! That I had a doctor who knew what was what - that I had a name to what I was experiencing - and that I had a medication that could help. Those of you who are suffering, and I know the agonizing suffering that you are feeling, please know that there is help out there for you! My dentist (bless him) gave me a candy recipe to ease the pain. It was basically peanut brittle (without the peanuts) but cayenne pepper added.
That was great, but I love cold apple juice with an 1/8 tsp. (or more if you like) cayenne pepper stirred in. I know it doesn't seem likely - but the cayenne burn fights the BMS - and wins. I do take klonopin (0.5 mg. - 3 tablets daily). My University doctor told me to suck on them - they are minty. I have never taken more than that prescribed dose. If there are times when I find the burning more than usual, I have some cayenne in some form. Cayenne pepper is great in juice, tea or even coffee. I know this is an incredibly long post - and I am not going to go through and correct misspellings, etc. -- just know that you are not alone and that you can get your life back.

Burning Mouth Syndrome now has a spotlight that it never had back in 1996. Good luck to all of you. Know that there is help out there even if your doctor says he/she doesn't know what is going on.

[razzle51]

There are a number of possible causes of burning mouth syndrome, including:
damage to nerves that control pain and taste


hormonal changes


dry mouth, which can be caused by many medicines and disorders such as Sjögren's syndrome or diabetes


nutritional deficiencies


oral candidiasis, a fungal infection in the mouth


acid reflux


poorly-fitting dentures or allergies to denture materials


anxiety and depression.