The B complex vitamins include eight water-soluble nutrients that support your body systems. A deficiency of one or more of the B vitamins can cause numerous, diverse symptoms, including a burning mouth. Lack of B vitamins in your diet or abnormal absorption from your intestines can lead to a deficiency. Burning mouth syndrome caused by a vitamin B deficiency typically resolves quickly when your blood levels return to normal with replenishment of the missing micronutrients. A deficiency of the B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, biotin, B-5, B-6 or B-12 can adversely affect the tissues of your mouth and tongue, leading to burning mouth syndrome and other symptoms. Deficiencies of folic acid and B-12 occur more commonly than other vitamin B deficiencies. Your tongue and gums might appear abnormally red or pale with a vitamin B deficiency. Swelling of your gums and tongue also can occur. Eating might become difficult because of your mouth pain and significant weight loss might occur.
Salty or spicy foods typically increase the burning sensation in your mouth. You might develop painful cracks in the skin at the corners of your mouth or on the surface of your tongue. Your tongue might appear smoother than normal and you might experience abnormalities in your sense of taste. Other symptoms associated with a vitamin B deficiency include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, skin rashes, weakness, muscle pain, fatigue, irritability, confusion, depression, difficulty sleeping and numbness or tingling in your hands and feet. Deficiencies in vitamin B-12, folate and B-6 commonly cause anemia, or an abnormally low red blood cell level. With severe anemia, you might experience shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate with physical exertion. Several medical conditions can cause burning mouth symptoms. Your doctor can determine whether a vitamin B deficiency accounts for your symptoms by ordering blood tests to check your vitamin levels. Other possible causes of burning mouth syndrome include an oral yeast infection, reduced production of saliva, acid reflux disease, poorly fitting dentures and hormone imbalances.
Treatment for vitamin B deficiency-related burning mouth syndrome typically involves a well-balanced diet and nutritional supplements to replenish your supply of B complex vitamins. While you await a response to treatment, you can reduce your burning mouth symptoms with a few simple measures. Keep your mouth moist by sucking on ice chips, sipping water or chewing sugarless gum. Avoid carbonated beverages, alcohol and citrus juices, which might irritate your tongue and other oral tissues. Avoid tobacco products, salty snacks, vinegar, condiments and other acidic, salty or spicy foods that might increase your mouth pain. Cold foods might be easier to tolerate than hot foods. Milk and yogurt might help ease your mouth pain. Vitamin B Complex & Mouth Sores B-12 Deficiency & Burning Feet Burning Feet & B Vitamins Vitamin B-12 & Nerve Regeneration Exercises for Neuropathy of the Feet What Is the Primary Role of B-Complex Vitamins? Vitamin B Complex Deficiency Symptoms
Foods to Avoid With Burning Mouth Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency on the Tongue List of B-Complex Vitamins Sore Mouth & Vitamin B12 How Much Vitamin B Complex Should a Person Take in a Day? Foods That Are High in B Vitamins B-Complex Vitamin Benefits & Side Effects Tongue Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies The Vitamin Deficiency That Causes the Corners Of the Mouth to Crack How Much Is Too Much Vitamin B Complex? Vitamin B12 Benefits & Side Effects Vitamin B-12 Deficiency & Paresthesia Severe Vitamin B12 Symptoms and Involuntary MovementsMore user remedies on Burning Tongue Home Remedies For YouQ. I adopted a vegan diet early this year, and now I have begun experiencing a burning sensation on one side of my tongue. It is quite uncomfortable. This happened once before when I was single and not eating well. Could this be related to my diet? A. Sometimes a vegan diet does not provide adequate vitamin B12, which is found only in animal products or yeast.
A deficiency of this essential nutrient can cause problems with the nerves, including burning mouth or tongue. Ask your physician for a blood test to check your level of vitamin B12. A methylmalonic acid test (MMA) may be helpful along with the B12 test. If your vitamin B12 level is low, supplements may be needed. Certain medications such as metformin or omeprazole can also deplete vitamin B12 levels, so if you are taking such drugs, they may exacerbate the problem. We also heard an intriguing remedy for burning tongue from another reader: “I have read letters in your column from people suffering with burning tongue. I too had this problem once and the pain drove me crazy. I tried all kinds of vitamins and nothing seemed to work. “I finally mixed some apple cider vinegar into water and drank it down. My burning tongue went away within minutes! “It came back a few times, but the apple cider vinegar worked miraculously each time. Eventually I was cured, and the burning never came back.
I have no idea whether this would work for anyone else.” Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a complex, vexing condition in which a burning pain occurs that may involve your tongue, lips or widespread areas of your whole mouth, without any obvious reason. The disorder has long been associated with a variety of other conditions — including menopause, psychological problems, nutritional deficiencies and disorders of the mouth, such as oral thrush and dry mouth (xerostomia). Some researchers have suggested dysfunctional or damaged nerves as a possible cause. But the exact cause of burning mouth syndrome is often difficult to pin down, and pain may continue for months or years. Treatment of burning mouth syndrome is highly individualized and depends on your particular signs and symptoms and on the underlying cause or causes, if they can be identified. Most people with burning mouth syndrome can control their symptoms through tailored treatment plans. Other names sometimes used for burning mouth syndrome include scalded mouth syndrome, burning tongue syndrome, burning lips syndrome, glossodynia and stomatodynia.
Some people with burning mouth syndrome don't wake up with mouth pain, but find that the pain intensifies during the day and into the evening. Some have constant daily pain, while others feel pain on and off throughout the day and may even have periods in which they feel no pain at all. Burning mouth syndrome affects women seven times as often as men. It generally occurs in middle-aged or older adults. But it may occur in younger people as well. The possible causes of burning mouth syndrome are many and complex. Each of the following possible causes applies to only a small portion of all people who complain of a burning mouth. Many people have multiple causes. Identifying all of the causes is important so that your doctor can develop a treatment plan tailored for you. Often, more than one cause is present. Despite careful evaluation, doctors are sometimes unable to find the cause of burning mouth symptoms. If you have persistent pain or soreness in your tongue, lips, gums or other areas of your mouth, see your doctor.
Your doctor can search for the possible cause or causes to guide treatment. Your doctor will review your medical history, examine your mouth and ask you to describe your symptoms, your oral habits and your oral care routine. In addition, he or she will likely perform a general medical examination, looking for signs of any associated conditions. As part of the diagnostic process, you may undergo some of the following tests: Because burning mouth syndrome is associated with such a wide variety of other medical conditions, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for screening and diagnosis and possibly treatment. Your health care team may include a dermatologist, dentist, psychiatrist, psychologist or a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat problems (otolaryngologist). Treatment triggers improvement in symptoms for most people with burning mouth syndrome. But the type of treatment depends on the underlying cause. If doctors can't identify the cause of your symptoms, they may still recommend trying oral thrush medications, B vitamins or antidepressants.