OBJECTIVE: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic orofacial pain disorder 
that is defined by a burning sensation in the oral mucosa. The aim of this study 
was to investigate the underlying factors, clinical characteristics and 
self-reported oral and general health factors associated with BMS.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-six women with BMS (mean age: 67.7) and their 
age-matched controls were included in the study. A general questionnaire, an 
OHRQL index and BMS-specific questionnaires were used. Each subject underwent an 
oral examination.
RESULTS: The mean severity of the BMS symptoms (VAS, 0-100) was 66.2 (SD 19.7). 
Overall, 45% of the patients reported taste disturbances. More of the patients 
than the controls rated their general health, oral health and life situation as 
'less satisfactory'. The patients also reported more frequently on-going 
medications, diseases/disorders, xerostomia, allergy and skin diseases. Except 
for more bruxofacets among the patients, there were no significant differences 
regarding signs of parafunction. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, 
xerostomia and skin diseases showed the strongest prediction for BMS and no 
significant effect was found for medication, allergy or bruxofacets.
CONCLUSIONS: Skin diseases and xerostomia but not parafunction were strongly 
associated with BMS. Our findings provide the basis for additional studies to 
elucidate the causal factors of BMS.