Tongue pain (synonyms: Glossalgia; glossodynia; glossopyrosis; tongue burning; tongue pain; ICD-10-GM K14.6: glossodynia) can occur in various diseases of the mouth, but also in other diseases. In the majority of cases, the lateral parts of the tongue and the tip of the tongue are affected. Tongue pain can be acute or chronic.
Tongue pain can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Sex ratio: Women are more frequently affected than men.
Frequency peak: Glossodynia (burning tongue) occurs predominantly in postmenopausal women (after menopause).
The prevalence (disease frequency) of glossodynia is estimated to be 5% (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: The course and prognosis depend on the cause of the disease. Medical clarification is required.
Note: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS), which is characterized by insensitivity of the tongue or oral mucosa, including the lips, can be found under the topic of the same name.
