Oral Lichen Planus

Treatment

Mild oral lichen planus may need only periodic monitoring and special mouthwashes that can temporarily numb or soothe a painful mouth.

For more severe symptoms, the options include:

• Ointments or gels (corticosteroids and immune-modifying medicines) to reduce pain and heal ulcers
• Oral medications to suppress your body's immune response
• Changing medications you take for other conditions, if they seem to trigger oral lichen planus
• Removing certain dental materials and repairing dental problems that irritate your mouth
• Medication to treat infections such as thrush, which is sometimes associated with oral lichen planus
• Therapy and medication for stress

At Mayo Clinic you are typically scheduled for an annual follow-up exam to screen for mouth cancer.

Read more about treatment of oral lichen planus.