- 1. Eating hot, acidic or spicy foods or drinks
- 2. Dry mouth
- 3. Lack of vitamin B
- 4. Yeast infection
- 5. Burning mouth syndrome
- When to go to the doctor
A burning or burning sensation on the tongue is a relatively common symptom, especially after drinking a very hot drink, such as coffee or hot milk, which ends up burning the lining of the tongue. However, this symptom can also appear for no apparent reason, and may indicate a health problem such as nutritional deficiency, mouth irritation or just a dry mouth syndrome, for example.
Thus, whenever the burning sensation in the tongue suddenly appears and takes more than 2 to 3 days to disappear, it is advisable to consult a dentist or even a general practitioner, to assess the oral cavity and identify the cause, initiating the most appropriate treatment.
1. Eating hot, acidic or spicy foods or drinks
This is the main cause of tongue burning that appears in almost all people, at least once in their lives. The burning occurs because if you eat something very hot, the temperature can end up causing a burn on the tongue, lips, gums or cheeks. In addition, acidic foods, such as citrus fruits or very spicy foods, can injure the tongue and cause a burning sensation. Most of the time, this burn is mild, but it can cause discomfort and loss of sensation for up to 3 days.
What to do: To relieve the symptoms, preference should be given to cold foods and beverages, leaving the food warmer for after the symptoms disappear. So, a good technique is to let the food cool before eating, for example. You should also avoid adding spicy to your food and acidic fruits, such as kiwi, pineapple or grapefruit, for example. In addition, good oral hygiene must be maintained and, if the burn is very severe, consult a general practitioner.
2. Dry mouth
Dryness of the mouth arises when the salivary glands are unable to produce enough saliva to keep the oral mucosa and tongue moist. When this happens, a burning or tingling sensation on the tongue is normal.
Some of the most common causes of dry mouth include problems with salivary glands or the use of some medications. In addition, diseases that compromise the immune system, such as Sjögren's syndrome, AIDS and diabetes also cause dry mouth, and hormonal changes, more common in women, can also cause dry mouth, so it is possible that some people have burning of the tongue at specific periods in life, such as during menstruation, for example. Know the main causes of dry mouth and what to do.
What to do: when your mouth feels very dry, you should increase your water consumption or chew sugarless gum, for example, to stimulate saliva production. However, when dryness persists for a long time, a general practitioner should be consulted to identify the cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
3. Lack of vitamin B
The lack of B vitamins usually causes a slight inflammation of the oral mucosa, leading to the appearance of burning on the tongue, gums and cheeks. However, the lack of minerals like iron and zinc can also cause the same type of symptoms.
This type of deficiency is more common in people who do not have a varied diet or who follow a more restricted lifestyle of foods, such as vegetarians or vegans, for example. See which foods are rich in vitamin B, zinc or iron.
What to do: the ideal is to always eat a very varied diet, however, if there is a suspicion of deficiency of some vitamin, you should consult the doctor to do a blood test and start the necessary supplementation.
4. Yeast infection
Yeast infection, known as candidiasis, can also appear on the tongue, especially when you don't have adequate oral hygiene. When this happens, it is common to get the sensation of tingling or burning on the tongue, as well as other signs such as bad breath and a whitish tongue. See other signs of oral candidiasis.
What to do: usually the infection can be controlled with proper oral hygiene, at least twice a day. However, if it does not disappear in 1 week, you should see a dentist or general practitioner, as it may be necessary to use some antifungal to treat the infection.
5. Burning mouth syndrome
This is a relatively rare syndrome in which the burning sensation on the tongue, lips, palate and other areas of the mouth arises for no apparent reason and can last for several years. In addition, other signs may appear, such as tingling and changes in taste, especially affecting women over 60 years of age.
The causes of this syndrome are not yet known, but excess stress, anxiety and depression appear to be factors that increase the risk of developing it.
What to do: When this syndrome is suspected, a doctor should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. The doctor may recommend mouthwashes and remedies, such as low-dose tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants. Treatment will depend on the person's physical examination, analysis and medical history.
When to go to the doctor
Usually, the burning sensation on the tongue disappears in a short time, maintaining proper oral hygiene and drinking at least 2 liters of water per day. However, it is advisable to go to the doctor if:
- The burning sensation lasts for more than 1 week; There is difficulty in eating; Other signs appear, such as white plaques on the tongue, bleeding or intense bad smell.
In these cases, a dentist or general practitioner should be consulted to identify the correct cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Also see what can cause tongue pain and what to do.
