TONGUE, BURNING
Description and Possible Medical Problems
Because the tissues of the mouth and tongue change with age, becoming thin and less elastic, they tend to become more sensitive to extremes in temperature. A burning feeling in the mouth and on the tongue is one result of these changes.
In addition to the changes that come with age, a vitamin B deficiency is frequently to blame for a burning tongue. Studies show that a lack of iron might also be a contributing factor to a burning tongue. Some women who have gone through menopause and don’t take estrogen replacement therapy complain that their tongue feels as though it’s “on fire.” Studies have shown that a decrease in estrogen levels is linked with the appearance of a burning tongue.
But a burning tongue can occur in anyone at any age, and spicy foods as well as foods with a high acid content can make it worse. This is a related condition called glossodynia.
Treatment
To alleviate the symptoms of a burning tongue, it’s a good idea to start taking a multivitamin supplement such as Z-Bec that contains 100% of all of the B vitamins to see if this helps. One tablet or capsule each day is the recommended dosage. For postmenopausal women, beginning a program of estrogen replacement therapy may help ease a burning tongue.
However, if these methods don’t work, some temporary treatments are available. You can buy benzocaine in several over-the-counter preparations to apply to your tongue when the burning becomes severe. Anbesol in gel or liquid form applied three to four times a day can also offer relief. Some people also find that increasing their consumption of dairy products helps to soothe the burning, at least temporarily.
*249\167\8*
Leave a Reply