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Warning-sign checks

Burning mouth syndrome: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, faintness, or an inability to swallow saliva.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the treating clinician sooner if symptoms change significantly, a new medicine appears to worsen the burning, or treatment causes troublesome side effects.

    A repeat examination is appropriate if a sore, lump, bleeding area, or red or white patch develops, especially if it does not heal within about two weeks.

    Seek prompt care for fever, spreading swelling, inability to drink, or substantial unintended weight loss.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has a wound that is hot, spreading red, or leaking pus
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Routine follow-up allows the clinician to review test results, monitor symptoms, and assess whether treatment is helping.

    Because improvement may be slow, it can be useful to track pain intensity, sleep, eating, and daily function rather than focusing only on whether burning has disappeared completely.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Burning mouth syndrome. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.