Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition accompanied by burning pain in the mouth and often accompanied by numbness. Researchers at the Institute of Dentistry in Norway have now developed a promising treatment to relieve the symptoms of BMS. The study was recently published European Journal of Neuroscience appeared.
The challenge with BMS is that the intensity of the pain often does not match the visible signs of the disease. This often led to patients not being taken seriously by doctors. By studying the brains of BMS patients, researchers discovered irregularities in the brain’s pain network, which could indicate cerebral neuropathy that causes the burning sensation in the mouth. This finding could change the way BMS is treated.
To date, there has been no effective treatment for BMS. Common medications, such as benzodiazepines and antidepressants, have had limited success. However, a promising therapeutic approach involves the use of capsaicin, an active ingredient from chili peppers. In order to effectively place capsaicin in the oral cavity and keep it there, work is underway to develop a special “carrier”.
The research could give BMS patients new hope by opening up a potentially more effective treatment option. The results also emphasize the importance of research into unexplained pain syndromes and show how interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to innovative therapeutic approaches.
Source: University of Oslo