Contact sensitivity and the mouth

The oral mucous membranes may be involved in a variety of dermatological disorders. Oral symptoms may be a manifestation of systemic disease. However, there is a group of patients in whom no obvious dermatological or systemic cause can be found to account for their oral symptoms. Contact allergy should be considered in all patients with unexplained oral symptoms. Contact sensitivity has been described as a factor in recurrent oral ulceration, oral lichenoid reactions, the burning mouth syndrome and persistent perioral swelling.