Burning mouth syndrome and oral microbiota: a review

Michele Russo; Pellegrino Crafa; Lorella Franzoni; Marilisa Franceschi; Kryssia Isabel Rodriguez-Castro; Antonio Tursi; Giovanni Brandimarte; Francesco Di Mario

doi:10.23750/abm.v95i1.14950

Burning mouth syndrome and oral microbiota: a review

Authors

Michele Russo 1Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Division, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Pellegrino Crafa
Lorella Franzoni Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma
Marilisa Franceschi Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine, ULSS7 Pedemontana, Hospital AltoVicentino, Santorso (VI), Italy, Schio (Vi), IT
Kryssia Isabel Rodriguez-Castro Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine, ULSS7 Pedemontana, Hospital AltoVicentino, Santorso (VI), Italy, Schio (Vi), IT
Antonio Tursi Territorial Gastroenterology Service, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Barletta-Andria-Trani, Andria, Italy
Giovanni Brandimarte Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy
Francesco Di Mario Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v95i1.14950

Keywords:

burning mouth syndrome, oral microbiota, oral bacteria

Abstract

Background and aim: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition characterized by intraoral burning or dysesthetic sensations without evident causative lesions. The etiology of BMS remains unclear, and effective treatments are lacking. This review aimed to evaluate the correlation between BMS and oral microbiota by analyzing relevant studies. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases from inception until 11 june 2023. Results: Two studies were identified, providing preliminary evidence on this association. The first study compared the oral microbial profiles of patients with primary BMS and healthy controls, revealing lower microbial diversity in the BMS group and specific microbial taxa associated with BMS. The second study assessed the incidence of oral infections in BMS patients and their impact on symptoms, finding no significant correlation between oral infections and BMS symptoms. Conclusions: The findings suggest a potential association between oral microbiota and BMS, with alterations in the oral microbial community possibly contributing to BMS pathogenesis. Disease-specific microbial markers may have diagnostic implications for BMS. However, the limited number of studies and heterogeneity among them emphasize the need for further well-designed research employing larger sample sizes, standardized methodologies, and consistent diagnostic criteria.

Author Biography

Pellegrino Crafa

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