Burning Mouth Syndrome
Also written as: BMS
A chronic orofacial pain condition characterised by a burning or scalding sensation in the oral mucosa in the absence of identifiable mucosal lesions or underlying systemic disease.
Full Definition
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is classified as a primary or idiopathic condition when no local or systemic cause is found, distinguishing it from secondary burning mouth, which arises from a specific identifiable aetiology such as nutritional deficiency or xerostomia. It predominantly affects postmenopausal women and most commonly involves the tongue (glossodynia), lips, and palate. Editors must be alert to authors using 'glossodynia' and 'BMS' interchangeably; glossodynia specifically refers to burning restricted to the tongue. The International Headache Society and the International Association for the Study of Pain have both published classification criteria, and editors should ensure authors cite the appropriate reference. The abbreviation BMS should be expanded on first use.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use 'glossodynia' as a synonym for BMS when the burning affects sites beyond the tongue. Confirm whether the author is describing primary (idiopathic) or secondary burning mouth, as management differs.
In Context
- "Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) was diagnosed after nutritional, haematological, and mucosal causes were excluded." — Specialist referral letter
- "The author used 'glossodynia' and 'BMS' interchangeably, but these terms require disambiguation." — Copy-editor's query