Does oral lichen planus mean "moss" growing in the mouth?

If one day you feel astringent and painful sensation in your mouth while eating spicy hot pot, and when you look in the mirror you find white streaks in your mouth that feel rough when you lick them and protrude from the mucosal surface, then you should go see a dentist immediately, as these white streaks may be oral lichen planus.

So what is oral lichen planus? When it comes to "lichen", people may think of skin diseases such as tinea manuum and tinea pedis, but in fact this "lichen" is not the same as "tinea". Oral lichen planus is an immune-related chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, which is more common in women, usually between the ages of 30-60 years old. It can occur on the skin, appearing as purple-red polygonal papules, or it can appear on the mucosa of various parts of our mouth, appearing as white reticular stripes, slightly raised, making you feel rough and uneven. These stripes are mostly symmetrically distributed and may be accompanied by congestion and erosion. The patient in the picture below shows patterned and lumpy white lesions in his mouth, which is a typical phenotype of oral lichen planus.

These mucous membranes become fragile because of the growth of the so-called "moss". When stimulated by irritating foods such as numbness, spicy, sour, hot, and astringent, the stinging sensation becomes more obvious. Severe lesions can also affect eating.

Are all white lesions in the mouth lichen planus?

At first, patients often use the Internet platform for self-examination and feel that the name of the white lesions is easy to confuse. So are all white lesions in the mouth oral lichen planus?

The white lesions in the mouth include: lipomatosis, white lines on cheeks, oral lichen planus, white edema, oral leukoplakia, lichenoid reaction, white keratosis of the mouth, white sponge nevus, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral candidiasis. Among them, lipomatosis, white lines on cheeks, and white edema are also normal manifestations and do not require treatment. The other diseases are often difficult to distinguish, so it is still necessary to seek medical diagnosis and timely treatment.

Is oral lichen planus contagious?

Although oral lichen planus has the word "lichen" in its name, it is not the same as what we usually call ringworm, such as tinea manuum, tinea unguium, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris. Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin disease caused by immune dysfunction of the skin. It has no correlation with fungal or bacterial infections and has no source of infection, so there is no such thing as transmission.

Why does oral lichen planus occur?

The etiology of oral lichen planus is complex and is related to immune, mental, endocrine, local infection, circulatory disorders, genetics, etc. Oral lichen planus is often complicated by immune-related systemic diseases, can be induced by certain drugs, and is locally related to metal fillings or restorations in the mouth.

What should I do if I have oral lichen planus?

Be prepared to deal with doctors for a long time. Oral lichen planus is a chronic disease like hypertension and diabetes. In severe cases, it requires long-term medication, follow-up visits to evaluate the condition and adjust the medication. Even after the condition stabilizes, regular follow-up is required. It is worth mentioning that there is a small probability that the disease may become malignant. Repeated erosions that do not heal for a long time, long-term smoking, and fungal infections are risk factors for malignant transformation. Even so, there is no need to be overly nervous, and you must avoid being afraid of cancer, because nervousness and anxiety will also aggravate the symptoms of oral lichen planus.

It is necessary to draw a clear line between cigarettes, alcohol, betel nuts, hot pot, barbecue, fried foods and other irritating foods. The oral mucosa is delicate and soft, and repeated stimulation of the mucosa can easily aggravate the symptoms.

Keep your mouth clean and have regular oral checkups; remove all kinds of adverse stimuli, such as removing dental plaque, sharpening teeth and repairing dentures, so that the "moss"-like mucosa has a "hotbed" to recover;

You need to embrace a healthy lifestyle, aim to eat light and balanced meals, ensure adequate and regular sleep, and face oral lichen planus with a positive attitude.

Do the above points well, and leave the rest to a professional dentist. Follow the doctor's advice, take medicine on time and go for regular follow-up visits. Even if there are still some white stripes of lichen planus in your mouth, they can't do anything to you.