Oral lichen Planus: What home remedies or medications help you?

I was diagnosed with lichen planus many years ago. I was given Fluocinonide gel USP, 0.05%. I works overnight like a charm. I will not go anywhere for too long without taking it with me. It was found that I bite the inside of my check at times especially if I chew gum. I no longer chew gum. As we age, our muscles begin to sag (yes even in our face), and as a result we have to pay attention to our back teeth wearing and getting sharper around the edges. The dentist can round the sharp edges off. I know just how painful it is when we get the open sores in our mouth. As an FYI, should you get the script for the Fluocinonide, you will read that it is for external use only. Since everything we put on externally goes into our pores and into our body, I was not worried about reading "For external Use only". I am sure the Oral Surgeon would not have prescribed it if he felt there was danger in using it in my mouth. Good luck.

@lichenplanussufferer Hi. Did you have lichen anywhere else on your body besides your mouth?

@maryz 37 years? Do you go through remission years or is it always popping up somewhere? None of the nurses I knew and even the first dermatologist I went to had even heard of lichen. I had my first breakout about 1.5 years ago and the only places it wasn’t was where people could see like my face and hands. I had sores on my scalp thank god covered by hair but my hair did thin for a little while. I was seeing a dermatologist who kept saying it was the soap I was using and to come back in 6 months and another 6 months. It was a hot July day when my neighbor a nurse saw the blisters between my toes and the sores all over my calves and was clearly grossed out. She said “you need to go to a different dermatologist asap this is not a soap allergy. There’s more doctors involved but I’m boring myself. Did they even know what LP was 30 years ago????

@bustrbrwn22 - it’s amazing how little doctors know about lichen planus. I finally got the Fluocinonide 0.05% from an Oral Pathologist - and it worked!

@rashida, I do not have your specific medical issue, but for my burning mouth syndrome, I take 2-3, clonazepam, .5 mg. daily. If you think this would be of benefit, you may wish to discuss with your doctor. I cannot imagine all the issues you have. Our mouthes mean so much to us. What terrible pain in such a sensitive area. May you find something that will help you. Best wishes, @joybringer1

Hello, everyone,
I am new to Lichen planus. About a year or so ago, my dentist commented on my gums that they were so red that this must be lichen planus, but he thought it weird that only areas of my gums were "fire engine" red! He said to watch it for a few weeks and call back if still red-I called back and I am not certain the message was relayed to him. I was not in discomfort so I let it go-had never heard of lichen planus, so on with life!
My next dentist appointment, he was alarmed that my gums looked so inflamed and gums recessed. I was sent to a periodontist who cleaned the roots of all my teeth and I am set up to have my teeth cleaned every 3 months alternating between the dentist and periodontist. He did a biopsy which confirmed erosive lichen planus and referred me to a specialist. Now I am alarmed-they were all so empathetic at the periodontist encouraging me that the gum tissue had improved after the root cleaning and I was feeling more positive!
My appointment with the specialist left me numb! He's a dermatologist and dentist. He looked at my mouth and said that it "was a mess"!
"We'll have to treat this aggressively"! So began clobetasol and minocycline daily and I ended up with oral thrush!!! They backed off the clobetasol to every other day. At three months, he was pleased with the results and removed the minocycline and added an "anti-rejection" medicine rinse. He checked and said I also have it vaginally! I am using another cream there.
My tongue often feels like it's been scraped. My husband and I had been going through a rough patch, but had just begun to iron things out and wanted to return to intimacy but the pain is incredible!
I am looking for advice, empathy, a place to share and find answers. I am frightened as this increases the chance of squamous cell carcinoma and I have had two spots removed elsewhere prior to the LP.
Thank you for any help
microgirl

@rashida I just posted @johnbishop about toothpaste. We both use Arm and Hammer. It's excellent for my use, with Lichen Planus.

@joybringer1 - my lichen planus does not cause the burning of my tongue and mouth, it’s @cmtg who suffers from this. I get sores on my cheeks and gums and my whole mouth feels like I have hundreds of razor cuts, making it difficult to eat or drink.

Thankfully after the last flare, Fluocinonide gel 0.05% (brand name Lyderm gel) cleared it all.

Isn’t Clonazepam prescribed for anxiety?

@bustrbrwn22 - it’s amazing how little doctors know about lichen planus. I finally got the Fluocinonide 0.05% from an Oral Pathologist - and it worked!

@joybringer1 - my lichen planus does not cause the burning of my tongue and mouth, it’s @cmtg who suffers from this. I get sores on my cheeks and gums and my whole mouth feels like I have hundreds of razor cuts, making it difficult to eat or drink.

Thankfully after the last flare, Fluocinonide gel 0.05% (brand name Lyderm gel) cleared it all.

Isn’t Clonazepam prescribed for anxiety?