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Various types of nutritional deficiencies can produce glossodynia and associated signs of inflammation. Changes such as swelling of the tongue, papillary atrophy, and surface ulceration are possible in most of the deficiency states. To further complicate the clinical picture, the patient commonly will suffer from multiple nutritional deficiencies [29]. Therefore, it is not advisable to diagnose a specific nutritional deficiency on clinical impression alone. To establish iron, folate, or vitamin-B12 deficiency, a hematologic screening that includes complete blood count, red-cell, serum iron, B12, and folate levels should be performed [30]. Although they are rarely required, specific tests for suspected niacin, pyridoxine, and riboflavin deficiency are available. Although glossodynia related to nutritional deficiency is statistically uncommon, it is easily curable with replacement therapy. Identification of a vitamin deficiency through early oral symptoms can forestall development of serious and irreversible systemic and neurologic damage.

And unfortunately, urinary magnesium loss can be increased by many factors, both physical and emotional. Magnesium loss increases in the presence of certain hormones. Stress can greatly increase magnesium loss...

...magnesium is also the activating mineral for at least 350 different enzymes in the body, more than any other mineral, so it is crucial for many of the metabolic functions in the body. Magnesium is necessary for almost all the enzymes that allow the glycolytic and Krebs cycles to turn the sugar and fat we eat into ATP. Low levels of ATP have commonly been found in people with fibromyalgia, and it is believed that this plays an important role in many of the fibromyalgia symptoms...

Adequate magnesium is necessary for proper muscle functioning. Magnesium deficiency promotes excessive muscle tension, leading to muscle spasms, tics, restlessness, and twitches. This is due to an imbalance of the ratio of calcium to magnesium, as calcium controls contraction, while magnesium controls relaxation...

Magnesium may also help Myofascial Pain Syndrome...

And it's because of magnesium's ability to regulate nerve functions that other fibromyalgia symptoms occur. Migraine headaches, mitral valve prolapse, and Raynaud's phenomenon, all problems commonly found in people with fibromyalgia, are also problems that have been associated with a magnesium deficiency.

Without enough magnesium, nerves fire too easily from even minor stimuli... emotional reactions will be exaggerated, and the brain will be too stimulated to sleep...

Not only that, but magnesium also affects carbohydrate metabolism in a different manner, as a magnesium deficiency appears to create resistance to insulin, Insulin resistance increases levels of insulin, which may result in a form of diabetes. Additionally, insulin resistance by itself can distrupt intracellular magnesium levels...

Magnesium also appears to be able to also affect the nervous system by regulating the release of hormones, which occurs due to many different forms of stress...

Many forms of oral magnesium supplements are hard to assimilate. The most common, magnesium oxide and citrate, happen to be the worst to assimilate, which is why both have a strong laxative effect. If you suffer from that effect when you take magnesium, it is often not because you are taking too much, but because you are not assimilating it well. And it may take long term use of supplements before magnesium levels are raised in all the tissues, and for damaged cell functions to be restored...

A magnesium deficiency increases cell membrane permeability...Changes in cell membranes and subsequent intracellular imbalance in cells reduces the body's defenses against toxins...

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BURNING MOUTH DISORDER
AND MYALGIA OF FACIAL MUSCLES. W. W.
Herman, J. L. Konzelman, J. Guinn III, J. A. Braselton,
Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, Augusta, Ga.
Background. Burning mouth disorder is a poorly understood
clinical entity that has perplexed clinicians and frustrated patients.
Affected individuals typically present with profound chronic burning
sensations of the tongue, lips, and/or palate without apparent cause.
Myalgia presenting as myofascial trigger points (TrPs) is common in
chronic orofacial pain. Characteristically, TrPs refer symptoms to areas
other than the affected site.
Objective. This investigation assessed whether (1) there is
a relationship between burning mouth disorder and myalgia and (2)
treatment focused upon myalgia can have a beneficial effect upon
burning mouth disorder.
Study design. A retrospective analysis of all patient records with
the diagnostic code of 529.6 (glossodynia) seen in the Oral Medicine
Clinic during the period from 1997 to 2003 was conducted. Records
were analyzed by at least 2 independent investigators using a data
collection form. Exclusion criteria were presence of confounding
mucosal disease, insufficient follow-up, and/or lack of outcome data.
Data collected were patient age, gender, duration of symptoms, number
of previous providers, presence/source of myalgia, and response to
treatment.
Results. From a total of 103 records, 46 records remained after
applying the exclusion criteria. The study population consisted of 9
males (average age 68) and 37 females (average age 58). Duration of
burning symptoms was >1 year for 56% of subjects, between 6 months
and 1 year for 37%, and \6 months for 7%. The average number of
providers previously seen was 3. Myalgia as demonstrated by 1 or more
areas of muscular tenderness was found in 39 of the 46 subjects (85%).
Muscles most commonly identified with tenderness were the external
pterygoid (82%), anterior belly of the digastric (69%), myelohyoid
(59%), and zygomaticus major (15%). Myofascial treatment modalities
such as trigger point injections, penetrating ointments, TENS, and
intraoral orthotics were tailored to individual patients needs. Response
to myofascial treatment was judged to be completely successful in 9
patients (22%), moderately successful in 8 (17%), and partially helpful
in 7 (15%).
Conclusions. This retrospective analysis of burning mouth
disorder and myalgia demonstrates that these 2 conditions occur
concomitantly in a significant number of individuals. Clinical relief of
burning mouth disorder by treatment of myalgia was obtainable in
some individuals.