Can burning mouth syndrome (BMS) affect my diet?

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) may affect your diet, and diet may be related to BMS. Allergies to certain foods, preservatives, additives or flavorings may be a factor related to BMS. Herbal supplements and artificial sweeteners may have treat BMS. Some hot or spicy foods can increase the pain.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) may affect your diet. You may want to avoid hot spicy foods, as well as food and drinks high in acid, such as citrus fruits, soda, and coffee. Doing so often improves symptoms, as does avoiding alcohol. You may also want to modify your diet if you have nutritional deficiencies, which are one possible cause for this uncomfortable condition. Your doctor may check you for nutritional deficiencies in B vitamins, iron, zinc, or folate. You may be advised to take supplements of these, as well as to eat foods high in these nutrients.

Like any condition that causes mouth pain, burning mouth syndrome (also known as BMS or glossodynia) may alter your eating habits. You should avoid spicy and acidic foods such as tomatoes, orange juice, soft drinks, coffee, cinnamon, and mint. You may not feel like eating when you have pain, but you should try, because nutritional deficiencies have been known to aggravate or cause burning mouth syndrome. You should drink fluids or suck on ice chips for relief.