Burning mouth syndrome (BMS): Is this an autoimmune disease?

At times I did have a metal taste in my mouth. In the beginning I had gotten 3 new crowns. My burning started after that. I tested for allergies and was allergic to a material used with crowns. I replaced the 3 crowns only dentist still used material I was allergic to. I continued to burn so I had all 3 crowns replaced again. I kept burning. I then had a root canal and was told I did need the root canal after being told for 3 years I did not. Burning continued. I decided to have the burning tooth pulled and sent for analysis. I had 12 different kinds of bacteria. Took antibiotics. Burning continued. I fought hard to find answers. Finally a Dr at emergency room got my burning to stop and that’s when I got the esophagus scope at her recommendation. I did find that gabapentin increased the burning. Pregabalin caused other burning at other areas on body. Pain pills worked to reduce the hot burning but that only lasted so long. You might talk to your dr about trying a reflux treatment with PPI and coating esophagus with sucralfate just to see if after 30 to 45 days you see improvement or ask Dr about trying Pepsid complete chewable tablets OTC. My family Dr had no faith that treating reflux would stop my burning but he is happy it did work. The metal taste in mouth is the worst. Have you had any new dental work done? I read every article I could find trying to find answers. Good luck!

I also bought many different types of tooth paste to try. I used mouth sprays for dry mouth. Do you treat for dry mouth if not you might start there. My mouth tissues were burning so bad that when I had my teeth cleaned I had to have numbing gel put all over my mouth tissues as could not stand having fingers w gloves touch my mouth tissues because hurt so bad. I kind of wonder what chewing an OTC pepsid complete would do for your metal taste? What does your doctor say? Have you read up online on metal taste in mouth for answers?

Not sure if this helps but my doctor believes this is a Vitamin D deficiency so my mum started taking vitamin D and hasn't had a problem since.

That’s amazing! What a relief I’m sure. I dream that one day I won’t have my constant bitter taste. It’s difficult to keep up hope.

That’s amazing! What a relief I’m sure. I dream that one day I won’t have my constant bitter taste. It’s difficult to keep up hope.

Nasal drainage can cause a metal taste in your mouth. Have you tried taking Benadryl or using a nasal antihistamine spray for allergy or nasal drainage?

At times I did have a metal taste in my mouth. In the beginning I had gotten 3 new crowns. My burning started after that. I tested for allergies and was allergic to a material used with crowns. I replaced the 3 crowns only dentist still used material I was allergic to. I continued to burn so I had all 3 crowns replaced again. I kept burning. I then had a root canal and was told I did need the root canal after being told for 3 years I did not. Burning continued. I decided to have the burning tooth pulled and sent for analysis. I had 12 different kinds of bacteria. Took antibiotics. Burning continued. I fought hard to find answers. Finally a Dr at emergency room got my burning to stop and that’s when I got the esophagus scope at her recommendation. I did find that gabapentin increased the burning. Pregabalin caused other burning at other areas on body. Pain pills worked to reduce the hot burning but that only lasted so long. You might talk to your dr about trying a reflux treatment with PPI and coating esophagus with sucralfate just to see if after 30 to 45 days you see improvement or ask Dr about trying Pepsid complete chewable tablets OTC. My family Dr had no faith that treating reflux would stop my burning but he is happy it did work. The metal taste in mouth is the worst. Have you had any new dental work done? I read every article I could find trying to find answers. Good luck!

Ok. I had extensive dental work done in March -April 2023. A root canal, 2 extractions including 1 wisdom tooth and a bone graft in preparation for an implant. Very traumatic and painful before I had the procedures. Resulted from an overly filled filling that caused trauma and a ripple effect. But, recovered well.

It wasn’t until September 2023, right after several other things happened that the bitter taste hit me like a tsunami. I’ll try to be brief, but I’ll share the details just in case anyone has any ideas. I told my doctors, but they don’t seem to care about these details. I think they are important.

In August 2023, my dermatologist prescribed me an antifungal cream for spots on my neck called tinea versiclor (fungus of small spots on my neck). It worked great and spots were gone almost overnight. So, I asked her if I might have it in my scalp, since it was a little itchy. She prescribed the med in the form of a wash for hair/body. The first time I used it on my scalp, I got a funny taste in my mouth. Just briefly. I thought how odd. The stuff was not in my mouth. Then, it happened again the next time I used it. It only lasted a few seconds and left. Then, one morning, I applied it to my legs, rinsed well. No funny taste this time.

I later saw urgent care for a suspected UTI. They prescribed an antibiotic, which I took orally. Within 1 hour of taking it, I was driving my car, the metallic taste hit me so strong that I had to pull over and call the doctor. They said metallic taste is not uncommon with antibiotics, keep taking it. I only took 1 more pill. They called and said stop taking it. Culture was negative. But the taste has remained to this day.

In November I saw ENT, neurologist, dermatologist and primary. I was diagnosed with several things….post covid syndrome ( covidSeptember 1) , Vitamin B12 deficiency, numbness in feet, tingling in hands, smell/taste disorder (failed smell sample test) and hair loss due to rapid weight loss.

So, what caused these things? Related? Idk. It’s a mystery. My smell has returned. Hair no longer shedding. But, bitter taste endures. I am quite healthy. Eat right, workout, good vitals, limb numbness improved greatly. Still congested, but feel great otherwise. Holding on to hope my taste issue will resolve. Anyone with any ideas please chime in. I would appreciate it.

I am very sorry you have gone thru all this. Have you tried drinking only water