Medical & AI Research Disclaimer: It's my personal health journey, self-experiments, and research. Much of the literature synthesis and research was conducted using AI tools, and data may not be 100% accurate. It is educational and informational only, and not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified medical provider before making any changes to your health.
Podcast: BMS Sufferer — Guest Guide & Format
Everything you need to know about joining Denis Ethier on the podcast. A relaxed, patient-led conversation designed to gather qualitative data and advance research on Burning Mouth Syndrome.
How It Works
Relaxed & Friendly
This is an informal, 30 to 45 minute video call over Riverside or Zoom. No complicated equipment or technical expertise required.
Your Story, Your Pace
You only share what you are comfortable sharing. You are welcome to use your real name, first name only, or a pseudonym if you prefer privacy.
Advancing Research
Each interview is published on YouTube and podcast platforms to help fellow sufferers and provide anonymized qualitative patterns for medical researchers.
Core Interview Questions for BMS Sufferers
During the conversation, we will explore your timeline like a detective. Here are the core topics and questions we will walk through together:
Onset & Initial Event
When did your BMS symptoms first start? What was happening in your life, health, or dental care when it began?
Progression & Timeline
Did the burning arrive suddenly and stay permanently, or did it start coming on and off intermittently before progressing into daily pain?
Pain Consistency & Fluctuation
Is your BMS pain consistent throughout the day? Is it a steady 10/10, or does it fluctuate (e.g., 5/10 in the morning, 12/10 at night, or spike after meals)?
Location & Sensations
Where in your mouth does the fire burn the most (tip of tongue, sides, palate, gums, inner cheeks, lips, throat)? Do you experience metallic tastes or dry mouth?
Dental History & Precursors
What dental procedures, crowns, fillings, root canals, or cleanings happened right before or around the time your burning began?
Daily Diet & Food Triggers
What does a typical day of eating and drinking look like? Have you noticed specific food triggers (coffee, wine, spices, acidic fruits, toothpastes) that add fuel to the fire?
The Medical Gauntlet
How many dentists, doctors, or specialists have you consulted? What treatments, rinses, or medications were prescribed, and what happened?
Self-Experiments & Relief
What have you tested on your own (supplements, elimination diets, fasting, mouth taping)? Has anything provided even partial relief?
Your Message to Researchers
If you could speak directly to top medical and dental researchers, what is the single most important thing you want them to understand about living with BMS?
Interview Formats for Professionals & Researchers
For Dentists & Periodontists
We discuss cervical margin integrity, hidden subgingival decay beneath crowns, exposed root dentin tubules, galvanism, and bacterial biofilm pathways that trigger trigeminal nerve sensitization.
For Physicians & Neurologists
We explore small-fiber neuropathies, autonomic dysfunction, trigeminal sensory pathways, ion channel modulation (ASIC1/ASIC3, TRPV1), and why systemic pharmaceuticals often fail to solve local oral triggers.
For Academic & Literature Researchers
We review clinical trial design, salivary biomarkers, mucosal barrier permeability, dietary elimination protocols, and methods for bridging patient-led data with formal research institutions.
Ready to Share Your Story?
Join Denis on the podcast to help decode this condition and ensure no one navigates this fire in silence.