Natural Treatment and Cure for Oral Lichen Planus
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Oral Lichen Planus is an inflammatory condition that affects the lining of the mouth. It often appears as a lacy network of white patches, sometimes with sore and lesions on tongue and gums. Oral Lichen Planus is an autoimmune condition and it can be induced by certain conditions: certain drugs, allergens in dental materials or toothpaste, trauma, viral infection or stress. Although it is not contagious, oral lichen planus can produce painful sores that make eating difficult. Unfortunately, oral lichen planus is an incurable, chronic condition. Natural remedies can help to manage symptoms.
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Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene will keep the condition under control and help to prevent infection. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. Visit your hygienist/dentist at least twice a year for thorough cleaning and have your dentist monitor your oral lichen planus condition, as it is often a precursor to oral cancer.
Check Your Diet
Spicy and acidic foods can cause irritations or worsen the symptoms. If you notice that your mouth is irritated whenever you eat these categories of food, take them off your diet. Instead, eat probiotic-rich yogurt that not only soothes the mouth but has bacteria-fighting acidipholus. Drinking soothing tea made from mint, thyme and majoram a they are rich in antioxidants and therefore bacteria-busting in nature.
On the whole, drink plenty of water and fluids to flush out toxins and reduce inflammation flare-ups.
Lifestyle Changes
Stress, anxiety and depression can trigger oral lichen planus. Take time to de-stress through relaxation activities, exercises or meditation. Make lifestyle changes to reduce stress and anxiety. For example, reduce workload or learn to prioritize your needs, so you are not over-extending yourself. If depression is an issue, seek medical help.
Aloe Vera
A controlled trial published in the British Journal of Dermatology confirmed empirical findings that aloe vera can effectively treat mouth ulcers associated with oral lichen planus. Patients who were given aloe vera topical applications reported 50% improvement in symptoms and 33% of them reported that burning pain in the mouth disappeared. Sciencedaily.com also supports the use of aloe vera to alleviate the discomfort associated with oral lichen planus. Aloe vera contains anthraquinones, chemical compounds that promote healing and arrest pain because of their anti-inflammatory nature.
What can you learn from these scientific findings? You can drink aloe vera drink, apply aloe vera gel and use aloe vera toothpaste to effectively manage oral lichen planus.
Bee Propolis
Bees use propolis, a natural resin found in young tree buds; remetabolize it with their own nectar secretions to make a sealant to build their hives. Bee propolis (the name of the sealant) contains antimicrobial properties that are effective in killing bacteria. According to naturalnews.com., extracts of propolis can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, the cause of deadly infections in hospital.
Bee propolis is not only effective in fighting cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and reducing plaque buildup and bad breath, but it can also kill bacteria and bring relief to oral lichen planus sufferers.
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Related Interesting Reads:
4 Simple Ways to Fight Heartburn Naturally: http://healthbitsntips.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/4-simple-ways-to-fight-heartburn-naturally/
Healthy Gums is Possible: http://hubpages.com/hub/Healthy-Gums-Is-Possible
Homeopathy treatment for Mouth Cancer: http://debbybruck.hubpages.com/hub/Homeopathy-Mouth-Cancer-Remedies
Oral Lichen Propolis : http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oral-lichen-planus/DS00784
Learn More about Oral Lichen Planus
The copyright to this article is owned by Angeline Oppenheimer. No part or parts of the article may be republished without the permission of the author.
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Thanks, Jay, for your kind comments. I didn't know such a medical condition existed too, until I was told to do an article on it. This is an offshoot of that article.
Any more stories?
I didn't know anything about this. Looks very painful.
Patients have reported great difficulty swallowing and eating--yes, it looks painful. Fortunately ,it's not a common ailment--only 2% of the population has it.
Thanks for visiting and I look forward to visiting yours.
That must be painful..can't even look at the photo directly..I have experienced some mouth sore, you know when you bit your lips or tongue, but I guess it is far from this lichen..
Thanks for dropping by. Oral Lichen Planus must be way worse.
I have heard this described but did not know the facts of treatment, etc. Thanks for sharing the information/tips to help prevent it.
Hello,
Your article on OLP was well researched and written; unfortunately, I have this painful and difficult condition. Currently, I am having the worst reaction in many years and I believe it's only just begun. The entire right side of mouth has raised up lesions and a large mouth ulcer that is the size of a nickle and pretty deep too. I have been sailing through up until about a month ago with minor if any breakouts. Now though, things are different and I fear they may stay that way for a while. I belive my immune system is impaired and the lesions are mutating and changing shape all over in my mouth. Eating is almost not worth it and for the last week it has been non-invasive foods like spinach, broccoli and potatos. I cut out the sugar, meats, and fruits since these aggravate the condition and prolong the healing and lesions going back to their normal dormant state that I so desperately seek.
I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
Hi Michael, I know you are not a fellow hubber but it's nice of you to share your comments. I'm so sorry about your condition. Since you just had the worst reaction in many years, maybe, you can figure out what trigger it off. That may help you pin-point the problem. If nothing works, talk to your doctor. I certainly hope you feel better.
i want to know do this disease transfer from one person to another..and do this disease cause dead?
hadia, thanks for dropping by. No, this disease is not contagious--you cannot catch it from someone. Also, it doesn't lead to death. It's a painful, annoying condition.
bananas set mine off
Tracy Smyth, thanks for commenting. It always good to know what triggers it off.
Hello,my father has lichen planus. It is really painful for him because he's already 60 years old and sometimes eating is painful for him. Sometimes his meals should be osterized in order for him to eat. He already consulted lots of doctors like ortho, and EENT. I want to know the vitamins he should take because right now his doctor, an EENT specialist, adviced him to take Claricort for a week just to try if it's allergy related. Thank you!
I'm sorry about your dad, Bee. I certainly hope he feels better with this EENT specialist.
Got diagnosed this week, this page is an amazing education. Thanks for compiling this information.
Kulraaj Anand, sorry to hear about this. I hope your condition will improve with your doctor's guidance. Thanks for commenting.
I don't have Oral LP, but I do have a huge breakout on my skin. I have lesions all over my body; feet, legs, back, chest, arms and hands. My hands are particularly bad right now. The skin is cracked and painful.
My dad used to be a bee keeper and would make a propolis extract to use on our excema. I wish I remembered the ratio, so I could try it now.
Olga, so sorry to hear about your breakout. See a doctor and feel better soon.
Prevention of mouth breathing is crucial too. Mouth breathing causes deficiencies in CO2 (carbon dioxide) and NO (nitric oxide). Both are powerful vasodilators and fight chronic inflammation in the tissues. Mouth breathing leads to cell hypoxia and generation of free radicals in cells due to anaerobic respiration in mitochondria. To stop mouth breathing, visit http://www.normalbreathing.com/stop-mouth-breathin
Thanks, artour, for pointing that out. The link looks cool.
I have had oral Lichen planus for 7 years and have recently found colloidal silver very effective. I bought myself a CS maker. Also fresh aloe vera pieces have helped heal mouth ulcers. I think sugar is a trigger of soreness.
Alison, I'm so glad you came by to contribute to the hub. Good to hear that colloidal silver works for you. Thanks again for dropping by,
Do you have names of dentists and/or dermatologists in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area who treat Lichen PLanus? Thanks very much for your help, I lived 18 years in Antwerp, Belgium and was treated by Dr. Johan Snauwaert, of Brasschaat, Belgium, just outside Antwerp. He prescribed Cyclosporene (sp?) to be topically applied. This does help control eruptions.
Thanks, Taylor Chambers, for dropping by to comment. Unfortunately, I don't live in Pittsburgh but I'm sure if you look in the directory or google it, you may uncover some. Talk to people and ask for recommendations. Take care.
I have this ailment and found this article very helpful. It is indeed very painful and recently surfaced ( about 2 months ago). I just finished a biopsy and am doing everything to treat this. I appreciate this link and the additional ideas.
Vin, I'm sorry to hear that. I know it's very painful and hope you can find some relief soon. Thanks for commenting and I wish you the best of health.
My the pain !! I think this is what I have but not sure. I have called my Dr and he says its a virus? Im getting antibiotics today.. I hope this helps. Drinking water is even painful.. Thank you for this video and reply's
I'm sorry to hear that, ScottC. I sure hope the pain goes away. Good luck and thanks for dropping by to comment.
I have this very rare disease as well and the specialist told me that in his 30+ year career, I was only the 4th person he had seem with this disease. It is very painful, my gums are so inflamed that I cannot eat anything hard hot or spicey!! I also have lesions at the back just like those shown in the video. One side very severe, the other just begining to appear. Also they have said there is no medicine and no cure!! Its very disheartening to now that there is nothing that can be done!! I try to maintain very good oral hygiene but that is all the help there is!!
Like I joke about it, it ain't going to kill, but I am going to have a very rough road ahead!!! Plus I had other dieseases likr type 1 diabetes, HBP as well as cholesterol, and hypothyroidism!! Anything left??? Cancer??? Hmmm I'm sure it will appear given time!!!
Oh, Kajal Rayman, my heart goes out to you. I know Oral Lichen Planus is very painful and you all the other health issues to deal with, on top of that. I wish you well and hopefully, by some of the above suggestions will help. Take care.
I'm 65 and also have OLP and LP on my legs...I also have type 1 Diabetes and Hypothyroidism...Any connection with LP?
Sorry to hear that Connie. I hope you're feeling better. As to whether there's a connection between type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism--diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of thyroid disorders. Take care.
can oral LP in the mouth be treated by HOMEOPATHY?
Hi Sam, thanks for dropping by to comment. Talk to your homeopath person and see if something can be done.
thanks anglnwu.
i have a moderate OLP in my mouth and now i see some on the end of my tongue .. does this keep on spreading ?am i at a risk of oral cancer.... the OLP is since 4 months and the doc gave me some cream and pills but dint go off :((
Sam, so sorry to hear that. It is best to ask your doctor about the spreading. I wish you the best as you try to keep this condition under control. Have a nice day and thanks for dropping by to comment.
Hello Anginwu ~ Very good information here. I have also written a Hubpages regarding oral lesions which you may want to read and link called "Homeopathy Treatment In Oral Mouth Cancer Cure Natural Homeopathic Remedies" Expert homeopaths have dealt with all kinds of symptoms using energy medicines. Blessings, Debby
Debby, thanks for adding to this hub with your comments. I'm creating a link to your hub, so readers who are interested in homeopathic remedies can read it. Thanks for the suggestion.
I am swishing with some mixed medicine my dr. prescribed me. I have 2 sores, one on each side of my tongue, hurts bad. It seems to have began when i started wakeing up at night, and i would be biting my tongue. I have bad anxiety, and that is why i was doing that. My dr. wants me to swish with the meds 4 times a day, and then they are gonna do a biopsy...i hope i dont have cancer.
Hi Tom, sorry to hear of your sores. Hopefully, it's nothing serious. I wish you well and take good care of yourself. Regards and best wishes.
can hydroxychloroquine treat lichenplanus of the lower lip?
Hi Billydakid, according to the National Institute of Health, hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be useful in treating lichen plaus. Read here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8463463
But as always, consult your doctor before using any medication. Thank you for dropping by to comment and I hope you're doing well.
hi ,i have been following the above discussion.whearas i m also affected by OLP.Its really painful and disgusting.furthermore i m also disappointed when i heard no cure of olp fm my doctor.1st time i m prescribed corsodyle mouthwash,then hydrocortisone teblet,then betnesol but no development.i cant eat anything.does olp create mouth cancer?i m really worried.
shaki, I'm very sorry to hear of this. Hopefully,you will find a way to soothe the pain. I checked a number of sources for you and most say that fortunately, olp is not related to mouth cancer. I hope that helps and my best to you.
anglnwu thank u for ur comment,which is the best way to prevent this olp,could u pls suggest me furthermore what type of food should i take.
Thanks
shaki, thanks for checking back. This condition is mostly chronic--the best way is to keep it in check and mayo clinic suggests 2 ways: oral hygiene and keeping away from acidic/spicy food.
Also, I've checked various sources and here's one that maybe useful.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Alternative-Medicine-99
Again, always check with your doctor before trying any thing different. I hope that helps and have a great day.
I've had gum irritation issues since I was little but last December (2011) a partial crown on a rear molar broke off as I ate and I was left with a slightly cracked neighboring molar which irritated the bottom of my tongue. Initially I didn't think much of it. My dentist put a new crown in and smoothed the chipped tooth but in when I went in for a cleaning about 3 weeks ago, I mentioned to her that it didn't seem to be healing and I had developed a small lesion that looked like a canker sore on my tongue. She sent me to an oral surgeon for a biopsy and it turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma (cancer). I was blown away, as I don't smoke and drink only in moderation. I guess what I am getting at here is that if you think you have this fairly benign condition (OLP) but you are not 100% sure - and your lesion doesn't seem to be healing after a month - ask questions - tell your dentist. Go the extra step. I am only at the beginning of this process, which will include surgical removal of the cancerous tissue in late April. I urge folks not to assume that a lesion or what appears to be a canker sore is just that and will eventually go away on its own.
Pepper, I'm sorry to hear this. I hope your surgical procedure goes well and I wish you the best. Thanks for sharing your personal experience--it's always good to consult a doctor whenever there are symptoms that don't seem to go away. We can never take things for granted, like you pointed out. Take care and I wish you the very best again. God bless!
jayb23 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing that info...Didnt even knew such a thing existed. Cheers