I’ve been experiencing a burning sensation on my tongue. What could it be?

Q. I’ve been experiencing a burn-ing sensation on my tongue. It feels like I scorched it while eating or drinking something really hot—but I didn’t. What could it be?

A. What you describe sounds like burning mouth syndrome. In addition to the tongue, this syndrome can also affect the lips, gums, throat, or palate. For some, the sensation feels like numbness or tingling; for others, it’s a bitter, metallic taste. Burning mouth syndrome may go away in a few weeks, or it may last for years. While it certainly feels unpleasant, there’s usually nothing that a doctor or dentist can detect.

What causes this syndrome? Often a combination of factors. Among the possible contributors are medical con-ditions such as an underactive thy-roid gland, hormonal imbalances, acid reflux, thrush (oral yeast infection), the dry mouth seen in Sjögren’s syndrome, and diabetes. A variety of medications also may be the source, as may a vita-min or mineral deficiency. Other poten-tial culprits are food allergies and food additives, or flavorings. Jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and inadequate cleaning of dentures also may contribute to burn-ing mouth syndrome. Stress, anxiety, or depression are among the psychological factors that may play a part as well.

Obviously, if your doctor thinks that a medical condition is contributing to the syndrome, addressing that condition is the first order of business. If a medi-cation is the cause, your doctor may prescribe an alternative. You could try drinking more fluids, using preparations to increase saliva flow, and keeping your house well humidified. Chewing gum may help, too.