The role of xerostomia in burning mouth syndrome: a
          case-control study

: Thirty-eight subjects diagnosed with BMS according to the International Association for the Study of Pain guidelines were randomized to either placebo (5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose, 0.15% methyl paraben, and 10% glycerol in distilled water qsp 100 g) or treatment (urea 10%) to be applied to the oral cavity 3-4 times per day for 3 months. The patients were evaluated before and after treatment with the following instruments: the EDOF-HC protocol (Orofacial Pain Clinic – Hospital das Clínicas), a xerostomia questionnaire, and quantitative sensory testing.

Results

: There were no differences in salivary flow or gustative, olfactory, or sensory thresholds (P>0.05). Fifteen (60%) patients reported improvement with the treatments (P=0.336).

Conclusion

: In conclusion, there were no differences between groups, and both exhibited an association between reported improvement and salivation.

xerostomia; salivary flow; orofacial pain; quantitative sensory testing; burning mouth syndrome

	Study group (n=19)	Control group (n=19)	P*
Gender	Women 18 (94.7%)	Women 17 (89.5%)	0.500
Age (years)	66.32±12.01 (47-88)	58.42±13.70 (37-82)	0.068
Color	White 16 (84.2%)	White 16 (84.2%)	0.717
	Black 2 (10.5%)	Black 1 (5.3%)
	Mulatto 1 (5.3%)	Mulatto 2 (10.3%)
Occupation	Housekeeper 7 (36.8%)	Housekeeper 9 (47.4%)	0.332
	Retired 6 (31.6%)	Retired 5 (26.3%)
	Domestic 2 (10.5%)	Unemployed 2 (10.3%)
	Seamstress 2 (10.5%)	Nanny 1 (5.3%)
	Biomedical 1 (5.3%)	Secretary 1 (5.3%)
	Unemployed 1 (5.3%)	Seller 1 (5.3%)
Marital status	Married 8 (42.1%)	Married 8 (42.1%) 7	0.974
	Widowed 6 (31.6%)	Widowed (36.8)
	Single 4 (21.1%)	Single 3 (15.8%)
	Divorced 1 (5.3%)	Divorced 1 (5.3%)
Height (m)	1.55±0.08 (1.45-1.77)	1.60±0.09 (1.46-1.78)	0.111
Weight (kg)	61.82±14.41 (46-95)	66.22±11.66 (49-85)	0.327
Comorbidities	Hypertension 9 (47.4%)	Hypertension 12 (63.2%)	0.140
	Hypothyroidism 4 (21.1%)	Hypothyroidism 1 (5.3%)
	Depression 4 (21.1%)	Depression 8 (42.1%)
Smoking habits	No smoking19 (100.0%)	No smoking 15 (78.9%)	0.107

	Study group (n=19)	Control group (n=19)	P**
Main complaint	Oral burning17 (89.5%)	Oral burning 17 (89.5%)	0.553
	Tongue pain 1 (5.3%)	Tongue pain 1 (5.3%)
	Face and mouth pain 1 (5.3%)	Itching tongue 1 (5.3%)
Duration (years)	6.97±4.93 (1.0-15.0)	2.78±2.61 (0.1-10.0)	0.014
Periods of pain	Variable 15 (78.9%)	Variable 16 (84.2%)	0.362
	At night 3 (15.8%)	Morning 1 (5.3%)
	Morning 1 (5.3%)	Afternoon 1 (5.3%)
		Continuous 1 (5.3%)
Main descriptors	Burning 19 (100.0%)	Burning 17 (89.4%)	0.397
	Twinge 3 (15.8%)	Twinge 2 (10.5%)
	Shock-like 1 (5.3%)	Shock-like 2 (10.5%)
	Formication 1 (5.3%)	Weight 1 (5.3%)
		Formication 1 (5.3%)
		Itching 1 (5.3%)
Intensity (VAS*)	7.58±2.27 (3-10)	7.58±2.74 (1-10)	1.000
Worsening factors	Emotional stress 6 (31.6%)	Emotional stress 1 (5.3%)	0.356
	Bitter or sour foods 4 (21.1%)	Sour foods 3 (15.8%)
	Feed 1 (5.3%)	Feed 3 (15.8%)
	Hot food 1 (5.3%)	Cold food 2 (10.5%)
		Hot food 1 (5.3%)
Alleviating factors	Medication 4 (21.1%)	Medication 5 (26.4%)	0.365
	Resting 1 (5.3%)	Resting 1 (5.3)
	Removing the prosthesis 1 (5.3%)	Feed 4 (21.1%)
	Cold water 1 (5.3%)	Mouthwash 3 (15.8%)
	Candy 1 (5.3%)	Other 1 (5.3%)
Causal factor	Spontaneous start 13 (68.4%)	Spontaneous start 8 (42.1%)	0.236
	Oral surgery 2 (10.5%)	Oral surgery 8 (42.1%)
	Medication 2 (10.5%)	Medication 1 (5.3%)
	Emotional stress 1 (5.3%)	Oral infection 1 (5.3%)
	Coffee 1 (5.3%)	Coffee 1 (5.3%)
Previous treatments	Medication 11 (57.9%)	Medication 5 (26.4%)	0.571
	No treatment 5 (26.3%)	Mouthwash 3 (15.8%)
	Others 2 (10.5%)	Physical therapy 2 (10.5%)
	Laser 1 (5.3%)	Acupuncture 1 (5.3%)

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[1] Correspondence
: Luciana Alvarenga da Silva; Av. Niterói 127 / Parque Paraíso / Itapecerica da Serra; 06850-200 São Paulo SP - Brasil; E-mail: lucianaa@usp.br