@bestoflife I too have very red gums, they look spongy to me on the top set with red and white, redder and swollen on the bottom. Thank god when I smile I don't see my gums. They are always tender and if they get nicked they will bleed. That was how I realized something was wrong, originally I bled a lot. Then the white striations came, and then the sores in the bottom mucous or on the outside gum of the tooth. White puss looking things. Brushing teeth OMG that was awful.
Since the Dentist didn't know, they said go to your Doctor, The doctor did blood work and sent me to the ENT. That Dr did a buccal swab and gave me the Steroid Dental Paste.
After two weeks of that the sores healed, less white striations, and it's calmed down a lot. I found Toms Toothpaste with coconut oil. At least not as irritating to brush now. I avoid citrus , spicey foods, abrasive foods. No chips or crunchy. I also drink less alcohol, but one day at Christmas I had a few glasses of wine and that wasn't good. It flared again. I too wonder if the inside tissue is thicker/swollen... feels like it. Hoping it stays at bay with no open sores, like it is now but who knows.. @zinnia55 it's sad that the doctor's don't care enough to find a solution. I feel that is what's lacking in our medical system with so many specialist. Hard to find that one that will dig until they've figured it out. If I have another flare up like I lived will most of the summer I will ask about this mouthwash. Both doctors put Lichen Planus in their reports but neither has actually said those words to me personally. I'll see my Dr in February and I am going armed with information to talk about. I will consider a biopsy at some point too. All best to you all.