Burning mouth syndrome is characterized by a painful burning or stinging 
sensation affecting the tongue or other areas of the mouth without obvious signs 
of an organic cause on physical examination. A burning mouth sensation can occur 
in several cutaneous or systemic diseases that must be ruled out prior to making 
a diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome, since this term is used exclusively to 
refer to idiopathic forms and is included within the cutaneous sensory 
disorders. In most cases, patients with burning mouth syndrome have accompanying 
psychologic or psychiatric conditions. Consequently, the syndrome has 
traditionally been included among the psychogenic dermatoses. However, it is 
currently unclear whether psychologic factors are a cause or a consequence of 
the syndrome, or whether each exacerbates the other. Recent studies propose the 
etiology to be neurologic, either neuropathic or related to taste.