Researchers developing a new strategy for treating burning mouth syndrome with capsaicin drops

According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, BMS affects around 2% of the population, and women are up to seven times more likely to be diagnosed than men. Since the intensity of pain rarely corresponds to the clinical signs of the disease, BMS is considered an enigmatic condition. “Pain lasting at least four to six months with an intense burning sensation in the mouth, that cannot be explained by a medical or dental condition, is what leads to the diagnosis of BMS,” Dr Preet Bano Singh, an associate professor in cariology and gerodontology in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Oslo, said in a press release.

There has been little research on BMS, leading to patients often feeling dismissed and their complaints trivialised. However, after scanning the brains of patients with BMS, the researchers detected pathology in the pain matrix. This indicates that patients with BMS have cerebral neuropathy in the pain area, which could be a cause of the burning sensation in the mouth. However, as Dr Singh noted, it is crucial to first examine other possible causes of the burning pain in the mouth, such as medical and dental interventions and the use of certain medications, before establishing a diagnosis.

Current treatment methods for patients with BMS in Norway are often ineffective. They include the use of medications such as benzodiazepines, gabapentin, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, antioxidants and even behavioural therapies. “However, none of these treatments are optimal or particularly effective, and patients experience despair when there are no options to treat or alleviate their chronic pain,” Dr Singh pointed out.

According to Dr Singh, BMS can be effectively treated with capsaicin gel, which is commonly used in many countries, but is unavailable for purchase as an intra-oral gel or ointment in Norway. “Capsaicin is a chemical compound naturally found in chilli peppers. It acts as an ‘awakener’ for specific receptors in the body that transmit pain and temperature signals,” Dr Singh explained.

When applied to the mouth, capsaicin is often quickly washed away by saliva, which reduces its effectiveness. “The goal is to develop a new method for delivering capsaicin to the mouth that provides longer duration and better effectiveness. However, before such a treatment strategy can be implemented, it must be investigated whether the new carrier is safe for the cells in the mouth,” the researchers concluded.