Tongue burn - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

Tongue burning is an annoying sensation that can be attributed to multiple causes, both local and systemic.

This symptom can arise suddenly or gradually, worsening during the day; in other cases, however, the disorder usually has a continuous course. with temporary remissions.

The burning sensation in the tongue may be associated with other manifestations, such as tingling or numbness, itching, more or less generalized pain, bitter or metallic taste and sensation of a dry mouth (xerostomia).

The local factors that favor this symptomatology are referred to lesions or irritative states of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. The most trivial reason is the ingestion of excessively hot, spicy or acidic drinks or foods (eg lemon, cedar and grapefruit); in this case, the annoying feeling can last for a few days. The burning of the tongue can also be associated with the habitual consumption of tobacco, alcohol, beverages containing caffeine (coffee and cola) and other stimulants.

Possible local causes include allergic reactions (food or contact), mechanical irritations caused by incongruous prostheses, occlusal discrepancy and flawed and parafunctional chewing habits. represented by bruxism (ie the grinding of teeth during the night) and by the frame (which consists in tightening the teeth with excessive force).

A burning sensation felt at the level of the tongue (especially on the back and on the tip) or generalized to the whole oral mucosa, without apparent causal lesions, may indicate the presence of the burning mouth syndrome. The pathology does not have a clear etiology, but it appears to be favored by nerve damage (eg trigeminal neuralgia and acoustic nerve neuroma), chronic local trauma, psychosomatic disorders and hormonal imbalances (especially an estrogenic deficit, given the higher incidence in post-menopausal women).

The burning sensation in the tongue can be associated with gastroesophageal reflux (when it is particularly severe it can be felt up to the oral cavity), frequent episodes of vomiting, chronic gastritis, aphthous stomatitis and mucosal infections, such as candidiasis and cold sores. Sometimes the burning can occur in the context of the language on a map and oral lichen planus.

Stress, temporo-mandibular dysfunction, the use of some drugs, radiation or cytostatic therapy, Sjögren's syndrome and the altered functions of the salivary glands can also contribute to this symptom. The causes of systemic origin also include diabetes, iron deficiency anemia and the lack of minerals and vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid and niacin).