"We've found that topical anesthetics don't help much," Dr. Petty says. "But we've found that getting people to use capsaicin, the natural chemical in cayenne pepper, often does help. Patients can have a pharmacy make up lozenges containing it, or it is available in a prescription cream."

Patients use the cream on the tongue or under the denture. While it may be uncomfortable for the first couple of days, it often is found effective with continued use. Some experts think the chemical simply distracts the patient's attention from the original pain, while others believe it actually alters the nerves sufficiently to decrease pain perception.

Reviewed: January 2012