Managing Burning Mouth Syndrome: Current and Future Directions.

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Pain Management
• Dermatology

Background:

• Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oral pain condition with unclear causes.
• Distinguishing primary (idiopathic) from secondary BMS is crucial for effective treatment.
• BMS presents a significant clinical challenge due to its complex etiopathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on established and novel therapies for burning mouth syndrome.
• To discuss future research directions for improving BMS management outcomes.
• To highlight the importance of individualized treatment strategies for BMS.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on BMS management.
• Synthesis of evidence for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
• Analysis of emerging treatments and future research avenues.

Main Results:

• Current management involves addressing systemic/local factors and utilizing diverse pharmacologic options (e.g., anticonvulsants, antidepressants, capsaicin).
• Emerging therapies include low-dose naltrexone, alpha-lipoic acid, and phytotherapeutics.
• Non-pharmacological approaches like CBT and nerve blocks are also employed.

Conclusions:

• Effective BMS management requires differentiating primary and secondary forms.
• A personalized approach, integrating evidence-based findings and patient-specific factors, is essential.
• Further research is needed to refine therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes for this complex condition.