Oral Lichen Planus: How do you cope with it?

@zinnia55 Hi, like you, the reactions I have may not flare up for a day or so. For example, yesterday I really wanted to try a little piece of avocado. Unfortunately it stung my mouth. Today I have a new lesion under my tongue and my inner cheek area is swollen and raw. I have been under a lot of emotional stress also. I know I risked it by eating the avocado along with being upset.
I know for myself, without a doubt, I have to do all that I can to handle stress and upset. I know this effects me with this disease.
I do try to avoid sweet things. For myself, if I don't eat anything that takes a lot of chewing like french bread, iceberg lettuce etc... the more I chew my cheek rubs against my back molars then my cheek gets inflamed and painful. I will eat butter lettuce or the tender varieties. I tend to have a certain level of inflammation in my cheek all of the time. Warm cooked carrots is one thing I love and can easily eat.
The only medications I use are oral lidocaine rinse and dexamethasone oral rinse. The dexamethasone should only be used for ten days and not frequently. I choose not to swallow either medications. It's not good to use the lidocaine rinse frequently and swallow it! I also am taking an antidepressant and antianxiety medication. I have been taking the antidepressant for a couple of years now but adding the antianxiety medication has made quite a difference for me. I take 15mg. of Buspar twice daily. I'm so glad I started this med. because it helps my stress and upset which effects my immune system and mouth. I highly recommend trying the meds. My mouth used to be much worse. I lost a lot of weight. Now I've gained some weight which is good. I'm 5'5" and 130lbs.!!
Just avoid absolutely anything that stings or is painful initially!! Some days may be different than others but I don't want to risk it like I did with the avocado. Fresh banana's are a surprising culprit for me!
I'm here for you if you need to chat.
Take care ❤️

@sadea0208

Thanks for your post. I have autoimmune gastritis and have been having gum problems. Very anxious and don’t know why. What specialty doctor did you go to for diagnosis? I really don’t know who to see for treatment.

78 yr old female with oral Lichen Planus. Teeth have recently started to crack and decay and painful. Went to dentist for
Consultation. Sugestions were implants or full dentures. My concern is the extraction
Of all teeth as they are all bad. Also have had breast cancer with radiation and suspect radiation might have affected teeth. I need to get my teeth fixed soon. Any suggestions? The implant route is very long.