I have the same problem with this recent flare. The top front half of my tounge feels like it was burned on some hot food. Hurst like that all the time. Don't know why. I use the Biotene rinse and it helps for a short while but then it is right back. I also would like to know if anyone knows something to help.It seems advil helps some of the pain in ny paroited artereas and salivary glands but not the pain inside my cheeks and along my jaw line,so looking for somethingl to refieve that pain too.

Burning and stinging may be a low grade yeast infection. I was told that just the friction on my palate could also irritate the top of my tongue. Before Evoxac, it was a daily problem. Now it only happens when I'm stressed, start a new med that is more drying, or zone out and forget to take my Evoxac with a meal.

My rheumy says that there is some evidence that the burning may also be a type of neuropathy. Another cause can be a vitamin deficiency. Most common is just the dryness.
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First step is to moisturize like crazy to reduce the opportunity for yeast and friction. The only thing that works for me is Oral Balance gel. At first it hurt too, but when I started to apply a small dollop every few hours, it became soothing.

I've had several patient "cure" oral yeast with just Oral Balance, since it contains enzymes and minerals like actual saliva. It's thick enough that it sticks around longer than the spritz or the rinse. I have a tube in my purse, on my nightstand and in the drawer at work so I can use it every few hours.

Avoid the giant glob that the tube recommends to start with because it gives the sensation that you just eat a tablespoon of Vaseline! A small blob every few hours is more soothing and less annoying. Even with Evoxac, I use it at least 4 times a day, and before I go to bed. Because it is so thick, I feel like I get more benefit for my money that the other options. I do use Biotene BPF toothpaste to reduce plaque and tartar buildup with my Sonicare, but don't rely on that to keep my tongue happy.

Pain in the saliva glands is from inflammation. Plaquenil actually stopped that pain after a month or so since it is a disease modifier. If you have swelling or saliva gland pain and haven't started on a disease modifier, you should seriously consider starting one to avoid future damage to the gland function.

My Rheumatologist gave me a prescription for Salagen for dry mouth. Has anyone else used this or heard of it? It stimulates the salivary glands to produce saliva. I'm on my 3rd week and notice more saliva. I am 'drooling' in my sleep and do notice my eyes are also more 'watery'.... which does help the dryness.

Salagen is a short-acting spit-stimulator (sialogogue in dental "speak") with a 1-2 hour half life. That means in 1-2 hours there is only half as much effect from the drug. My Evoxac has a 4-6 hours half life, which means is works a lot longer and leaves me with less time during the day that I'm way too dry.

From what I understand, these drugs cost about the same. Both can cause sweating (which was a plus to me,) more spit, and when you adjusting to the meds you can get so much spit at once that you might think you are going to be sick, much like the increased salivation right before you throw up. For that reason my friend who was in on the Evoxac studies suggested taking it after a few bites of food, so that rush of spit was more like normal salivation when eating instead of that other sensation. It worked fine for me and after several months started to improve my tear production as well.

I'd like to emphasize that pain in saliva glands is from the inflammation. If you have swelling or pain, and there was no pathology (like a tumor or a stone blocking a duct,) and you aren't taking a disease modifier like Plaquenil, you should seriously ask your doctor about giving you a prescription. Disease modifiers (sometimes referred to as DMARD's) can stop the disease activity that damaging your saliva glands, and restore function where inflammation was interfering with the production and the little acinar cells were not already destroyed.

I am on Plaquenil now but not even a week yet. I sure hope it works. I should have started it sooner but too late now. The pain in my cheeks/jaw is really bad on the left side, but hurts on both. I am considering also trying Salagen or Evoaxc again but from what I remember from 2+ yrs ago, Salagen didn't help much and the Evoacx made me sweat so bad I almost passed out, but maybe I could take a smaller dose. I did look them both up as to cost and Salagen has a generic but the Evooxc (sp) does not so it would be a cost for me of $10.per month or $30. per month. Since I am unemployed and no more unemployment money, I think I would at least want to try the cheaper one first...but of course it is not cheaper if it doesn't work at all. Can you eventually stop these or at least take less often as time goes on?

When I started on Evoxac, I used to pour half of the capsule into my oatmeal or applesauce (15mg) and then take the other half at supper time with food. At my friend's recommendation, it took about six weeks to ramp up to 30mg per dose. She was in the Evoxac study in Southern California and actually took 60mg which really triggered sweating, but since she couldn't sweat from the disease process, she found it wonderful, especially in our hot SoCal summers.

Give Plaquenil 3-6 months to get the full effect before discontinuing it. Less than that, and you don't know if it will really help you are not.

I chew biotene gum all day long, and at night I use the biotene spray in my mouthpiece before putting on my apnea mask. Always too dry. My mother had it too, and sucked on sugarless charms. I get mine from drugstore.com