Burning mouth

We’re all about equipping you with the know-how to understand your symptoms, and we especially emphasize the specific, tangible ways to manage them. Our goal is to empower YOU to take charge of your menopause journey, starting today.

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So we’ve got some good and *less great* news here. Unfortunately, the BMS treatments out there have all been studied for pain management only, not for curing the syndrome. While they’ve been found effective in at least one study, that one study is the only evidence we have, so it’s hard to make concrete recommendations without multiple studies to substantiate the findings.

However…and here’s the better news…there’s a wide range of solutions that have been proposed, from nutritional to behavioral to medical, so you’re likely to find at least one that fits your lifestyle.

Lifestyle & Over-the-Counter Solutions

High fluid diet

Provides relief for the burning, dry sensation

Limited consumption of hot beverages & spicy foods

When it comes to foods and drinks that trigger or exacerbate the burning sensation, hot beverages and spicy foods top the list, so it’s best to limit them as much as possible.

Toothpaste tailored to those with mouth sensitivities

Monitor your symptoms after brushing your teeth. If burning worsens, consider swapping out your toothpaste for one specifically designed for people with mouth sensitivities, such as Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive. Alternatively, try the baking soda trick. Just dissolve one spoonful in lukewarm water and rinse, rinse, rinse (then spit it out, don’t swallow). That should neutralize the acid and provide a soothing, calming sensation.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT refers to a specific type of psychotherapy (or talk therapy) that, in this case, is helpful in reassuring women suffering from BMS that, while uncomfortable, it is not fatal (or even harmful), nor is it permanent. Bonus points for the fact that CBT helps in stress management, which is associated with BMS.

Alpha lipoic acid

Some women have found alpha lipoic acid — an antioxidant produced naturally in the body that is also found in foods such as potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes — to be effective in easing pain from BMS when taken in supplement form. It works by promoting the production of nerve growth.

Capsaicin

Counter-intuitive as it may sound, some women swish around mouthwashes made with hot pepper sauce diluted in water at a 1:2 ratio to ease BMS symptoms. The sauce, which contains a substance called capsaicin from hot peppers, is effective in desensitizing thermal stimuli, thus decreasing burning and pain.

Prescription

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Due to just how rare BMS is, it’s impossible to say whether HRT is an effective solution. Although there was a small study that showed improvement for half of the symptomatic women on HRT, the numbers are just too small to draw conclusions.

For more on all things HRT, refer to our complete guide.

Non-Hormonal

Certain low-dose medications that ease neuroinflammation (inflammation of nervous system tissues in the brain and spine) have been found effective in regulating BMS pain, like gabapentin which is typically used to treat seizures and nerve pain. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may also help, as depression and anxiety are often associated with BMS.

We’re always keeping an eye out on emerging research and the latest clinical studies. Subscribe to our weekly Elektra Digest for the latest, science-based info direct to your inbox. Something work well for you that’s not listed here? We want to hear it! Shoot us a note at [email protected]. (We’re human, promise.)