Could i have burning mouth syndrome? i've had persistent low-level pain in my lips and tongue for a few months now. most of the time the pain is not too bad, but it's always there. should i see my dentist for this?

Burning : Burning mouth syndrome causes chronic burning pain in your mouth. The pain from burning mouth syndrome may affect your tongue, gums, lips, inside of your cheeks, roof of your mouth, or widespread areas of your whole mouth. The pain can be severe, as if you scalded your mouth. Unfortunately, the cause of burning mouth syndrome often can't be determined. Although that makes treatment more difficult, don't despair. By working closely with your health care team, you can usually get burning mouth syndrome under control. Other names for burning mouth syndrome include scalded mouth syndrome, burning tongue syndrome, burning lips syndrome, glossodynia and stomatodynia. If you have pain or soreness of your tongue, lips, gums or other areas of your mouth, see your doctor or dentist preferably an oral medicine doctoras soon as possible. They may need to work together to help pinpoint a cause and develop an effective treatment plan. The cause of burning mouth syndrome can be classified as either primary or secondary. Primary burning mouth syndrome-when the cause of burning mouth syndrome isn't known, the condition is called primary or idiopathic burning mouth syndrome. Some research suggests that primary burning mouth syndrome is related to problems with taste and sensory nerves of the peripheral or central nervous system. Secondary burning mouth syndrome-sometimes burning mouth syndrome is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as a nutritional deficiency. In these cases, it's called secondary burning mouth syndrome. Underlying problems that may be linked to secondary burning mouth syndrome include:dry mouth (xerostomia), other oral conditions, psychological factors, nutritional deficiencies, dentures, nerve damage, allergies, reflux of stomach acid (gastroesophageal reflux disease), certain medications, oral habits, endocrine disorders, hormonal imbalances, or excessive mouth irritation. There's no one test that can determine if you have burning mouth syndrome or what may be causing your mouth pain. Instead, your doctor or dentist will try to rule out other problems before diagnosing burning mouth syndrome. Your doctor or dentist will review your medical history and medications, examine your mouth, and ask you to describe your symptoms, your oral habits and your oral care routine. In addition, your doctor will likely perform a general medical examination, looking for signs of any other conditions. As part of the diagnostic process, you may have some of the following tests:blood tests, oral cultures. Imaging, allergy tests, salivary measurements, psychological questionnaires, and/or gastric reflux tests. There's no one sure way to treat primary burning mouth syndrome, and solid research on the most effective methods is lacking. Treatment depends on your particular signs and symptoms, as well as any underlying conditions that may be causing your mouth pain. That's why it's important to try to pinpoint the cause. Once any underlying causes are treated, your burning mouth syndrome symptoms should get better. If a cause can't be found, treatment can be challenging. There's no known cure for primary burning mouth syndrome. You may need to try several treatment methods before finding one or a combination that is helpful in reducing your mouth pain. Treatment options may include:a lozenge-type form of the anticonvulsant medication Clonazepam (klonopin), alpha-lipoic acid, a strong antioxidant produced naturally by the body, oral thrush medications, certain antidepressants, b vitamins, cognitive behavioral therapy, specific oral rinses or mouthwashes, saliva replacement products, capsaicin, a pain reliever that comes from chili peppers. Surgery isn't recommended for burning mouth syndrome. Good luck.

Yes!: If it's lasted that long, definitely see someone. I would start with a physician if you've not had a full physical including bloodwork for this could be a sign of diabetes. If the physician can't help, then see your dentist.