Lichen in the mouth.
Posted , 5 users are following.
For about seven years I've had LS. About four years ago I started having receding gum problems. A year ago my dentist found that two crowns had decayed between the crowns and the teeth and had to be pulled. It's been a year now and the pain is intense. One of the teeth had such deep roots that one root had to be drilled out after the surgeon found it had broken off. The rest of the teeth are now exposing part of the roots. I've lost 20 pounds because if I eat anything and it touches the exposed part of the root I have sharp shooting pain that goes up to my cheek bone.
Just wondered if anyone else had such a problem. I'm at a point that I used to eat and enjoy food but am afraid to eat anything anymore.
0 likes, 17 replies
hanny32508 pat48434
Posted
I had it too. Receeding gums. But I started to first brush my teeth with a little bit of baking soda, later borax. Then rinsing with a few pinches of borax. All is healing well and the teeth and crowns are slowly recovering. At least I can chew normally again. LS down below and LP in the mouth. It's not fun.
pat48434 hanny32508
Posted
Thanks Hanny, You are right about "no fun." I have had both my dental surgeon and my Gyno do biopsy's and they show positive. I'm 81 so everything aches a little more but the mouth is really painful.
I have used borax for the vaginal area and never thought about the mouth. The dental surgeon gave me a script for Fluocinonide to rub on the gums, swish and then spit out. To tell the truth I was so involved with one of my children's problems I let my mouth down.
Thank you, I will try the borax.
Luck to all with this problem.
beverly52803 pat48434
Posted
pat, was it positive for LS in the mouth or LP? I have had a few canker types sore on the inside of my bottom lip the past couple of weeks. Can't remember the last time I've had one. Now I'm starting to wonder....
pat48434 beverly52803
Posted
Lichen Planus. In fact I had a biopsy by another dental surgeon take a biopsy and when I went in for the results he said both biopsy's were malignant. I told him he only took one biopsy and he said I seen to remember that. I then went to another dental surgeon and he took one biopsy and sent it on to three labs, one being John Hopkins. All three came back with Lichen Planus.
I have also been battling a UTI for four years and am in the process of taking a low dose antibiotic for another 90 days.
Seems like the plumbing is going crazy.
Other than those things going on I am very healthy just very uncomfortable.
stephanie67223 pat48434
Posted
Lp in the mouth how is that possible.
hanny32508 pat48434
Posted
How do you get LS? How is that possible?
beverly52803 pat48434
Posted
You ladies need to google lichen sclerosis vs lichen planus . The latter is oral.
Wee_Dugie beverly52803
Posted
Hello again Beverly, by chance a male that I was advising on the Women's Health / Lichen Sclerosus Forum sent me a link to an article regarding Oral LS. So generally you are correct, there are very few reported cases, and it is therefore defined as "extremely rare" - but is potentially possible. In these cases it can be present purely in the mouth, but sufferers most often have the usual LS issues of the anogenital region - oral does have the tell-tale whiteish patches too.
The article has a little general information on LS and is freely available if you use the following search term:
.
beverly52803 Wee_Dugie
Posted
Wee, the National Center for Biotechnology says "Lichen sclerosus (LS) and lichen planus (LP) are both immunologically mediated diseases with a preference for the genitalia.....The main difference between the two conditions is that LP has a propensity to involve the mucous membranes including the mouth and vagina which are rarely affected in LS. ....Erosive vulvovaginal LP is more challenging to treat. Second-line therapies include topical calcineurin inhibitors and systemic agents".
So, yes, apparently it's possible but not probable to have LS orally and it requires a biopsy to distinguish between the two(?) I still can't quite figure out the difference other than "mucous membranes" so I am now assuming a woman can get LP vaginally which is an extremely unpleasant thought. I'm pretty sure people who have posted have only mentioned their oral issues being LP. Maybe people with diagnosed oral LS will post. If I understand Hanny's post correctly she has LP and LS .
pat48434 Wee_Dugie
Posted
Bless you Beverly. I will be on it with all my doctors.
In this case two are not better than one.
Pat
Wee_Dugie pat48434
Posted
Pat, I don't know whether you live in the UK, but I wonder if you have had a consultation at your local Dental Hospital? Dental Hospitals obviously have a great deal of specialist knowledge, and at least part of their role is to teach the next generations of dentists, so they are aware of all of the latest techniques and treatment possibilities .......
pat48434 Wee_Dugie
Posted
Thank you again. No I haven't sought help through a Dental Hospital. Honestly I thought everyone would eventually have the ( LP?) Guess I'm just lucky.
Pat
beverly52803 pat48434
Posted
pat, I think receding gums is very common with age. My father had great looking teeth but was a heavy smoker and clearly afraid of the dentist. By the time he got to his 80's he lost many of his teeth. I think LP is a whole different issue though.
"....Lichen planus affects approximately 2 percent of the population. Although the disorder may occur in all age groups, women over the age 50 years are most commonly affected". American Academy of Oral Medicine
We ladies are way ahead of the men when it comes to auto immune issues. Lucky us. Wonder if anyone has a theory as to why. Sorry this is happening to you.
beverly52803 pat48434
Posted
Pat, has your dentist identified specifically what you have orally? Sounds as though a biopsy would be required. Have you been given any oral medicine to control it? Wonder if he has dealt with cases of LP before. Has he/she said?
pat48434 beverly52803
Posted
Hi Beverly,
Yes I've had 2 biopsy's. One by my Gyno for LS and 2 for the LP. Both came back positive.
I do believe I have had the LP for longer than I thought and the dental surgeon agrees. I have had blood red gums for several years. The trama to the mouth in having the two teeth pulled just brought it to a head.
Getting used to oatmeal and mushy food hopefully for awhile only.