Burning tongue is a common symptom of a condition known as Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). It is also known as glossodynia, oral galvanizing, glossopyrosis, stomatopyrosis and stomatodynia. The burning tongue ailment is quite common in middle aged people. The pain caused by this ailment lasts for several days and can be acute. It can also be chronic, in which case it might last for months. The symptoms of this condition are quite simple to look out for. Patients might feel a burning sensation in the whole mouth including bumps on lips, mouth, palate and tongue. Dry and sore mouth, loss of taste, numbness, splits on the tongue, metallic or bitter taste in the mouth are also symptoms of this ailment. There are several reasons behind this ailment. Yeast infection of the mouth is the primary reasons of BMS. Quite often, burning mouth syndrome is caused due to dry mouth and can be a normal process of aging. It can also be a result of medical antidepressants and antihistamines. For people suffering from cancer and other such crucial illnesses, this syndrome can develop because of the heavy medication. Use of chemical preservatives, coloring, fragrances added in food as well as food allergies can induce this ailment.
One of the essential home remedies for burning tongue is chewing sugar free gum. Give up the commercial toothpastes. Instead use baking soda as a replacement. Suck on a piece of ice; it gives a relieving cool sensation. Apply some glycerin on the affected areas of the mouth. You can also add some honey in your milk; it helps increase the flow of blood to the tongue. Application of lavender oil on the tongue will help too, since lavender oil is an antiseptic as well as a promoter of blood circulation.
Adapting a suitable diet for burning mouth syndrome is necessary for patients suffering from burning tongue. Stop intake of spicy or acidic food and drinks. Avoid cigarettes; they will aggravate the condition. Restrict the consumption of alcohol. Drink a lot of water as it keeps the body cool and the mouth moist. Add fruits and vegetables containing vitamin B and C to your diet. Bananas, lentils, liver, liver oil, turkey, tuna contain Vitamin B whereas oranges, papaya, sweet melons contain Vitamin C. Avoid tea and coffee. Add Iron rich vegetables such as broccoli, parsley and spinach. Iron rich food helps the production of new blood cells and replacing the damaged ones. Instead of fried and cooked food, resort to boiled food.