Oral Lichen Planus: How do you cope with it?

Thanks njh516 for your input and sharing your experiences.

Please see my comment @ginala

Hi @diana70

Hope you’re doing well. I’m curious if you ever found any specialists in your area? I am in MD as well and have been dealing with both oral and vulvar issues since Nov 2024 that I suspect could be lichen planus. I have an appt with a dermatologist in October to hopefully get a biopsy done but the waiting is excruciating, especially for something so scary. Very surprised Hopkins doesn’t seem to have anything in this area??

Thank you!

Hi atkint1,

My OLP calmed down considerably so I did not continue in my search. I did find that oral surgeons also treat OLP. The one that I contacted indicated that there is an expert that he sends patients when his treatments are not sufficient. I suspect Hopkins does have doctors treating OLP but referral is done through other physicians. I think your dermatologist will be able to refer you to someone if her treatment is not enough. I found Canker-X mouth sore gel helped with the pain of my OLP. Good luck!

Thank you for the reply @diana70. Glad you are doing better!

@diana70 I'm wondering, also, if you have found someone. If not, you could try going to an established dental school at a university near you. That is what I did for a diagnosis and treatment. I saw an oral surgeon there who had a lot of nowledge about OLP.

My Dr prescribes oral Lidocaine 2% it help numb it

Yes the lidocaine numbs it but then it's not advisable to eat or you'll bite your tongue or choke. The only thing that helped me when I had terrible erosions, right? I was using clobetasol gel which generally is not suggested for use orally, but it was prescribed by my dermatologist and it has helped tremendously.

It doesn’t numb me that good. Not when the dentist gives you shot. You get also can make a mouthwash with and liquid Benadryl ( children’s flavored is better. It like Magic mouthwash. I also use Lidex get and like you it is normally used externally but it helps a lot. I have constant too good stuff

I developed the same problem quite out of the blue. What helped was a steroid dental paste that I applied 3xday for 3 weeks. Now I’ve stopped, but it doesn’t feel as if it’s completely gone. I’m going to start using the paste again.