title: Burning mouth syndrome: a therapeutic approach involving mechanical salivary stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to evaluate the effects of salivary stimulation therapy on the salivary flow, quality of saliva, and symptoms in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  BMS is a chronic disorder characterized by a burning sensation. Some reports have proposed a role for saliva in the pathogenesis of BMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six BMS patients underwent treatment with salivary mechanical stimulation. Resting and stimulated saliva were collected before and after therapy. Salivary levels of total protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and nerve growth factor were assessed before and 90 days after therapy by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in the burning sensation and number of burning sites as well as an improvement of taste disturbances and xerostomia were observed after therapy. The salivary flow was not significantly modified. However, the therapy resulted in a significant decrease in salivary levels of total protein and an increase of tumor necrosis factor-α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary mechanical stimulation therapy is effective in reducing clinical symptoms of BMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627,Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabrício T A
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Tânia M P
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Tálita P M
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Evandro N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Abdo
authors.forename: Maria C F
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Antônio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kummer
authors.forename: Mauro H N G
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Tarcília A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha