Oral lichen planus is an abnormal disease of skin and mucosal keratosis with chronic superficial inflammation of unknown cause, which may occur simultaneously or separately in the skin, mucous membranes and nails. Those who occur alone in the oral mucosa are called “oral lichen planus”, which is one of the common diseases of oral mucosa. The disease is relatively common in middle-aged people, especially in women, and has a long course of disease and is prone to repeated attacks. Clinically, it has been clearly regarded as a precancerous state, and some studies believe that the canceration rate is 0.4% to 3.3%.
Reduce psychological stress
The etiology of the disease is complex and is related to many factors such as psychology, endocrine, immunity, infection, microcirculation disorder and genetics, among which psychological factors are the most important disease factors.
Many clinical experiments have proved that the degree of tension, anxiety and depression in patients with oral lichen planus is significantly higher than that of ordinary people, and its incidence is closely related to the patient’s negative life event stimulation or psychosocial stress. Therefore, in daily care, it is very important for patients to reduce psychological pressure.
For patients with a clear history of trauma, psychological counseling should be carried out according to the specific situation, to eliminate their negative psychological emotions, to avoid any negatively suggestive language and behavior to the patient, to be positively guided, actively encouraged, and improve their psychological state. When necessary, it is recommended to seek professional psychological support, which can relieve patients’ anxiety and depression through psychological therapy such as hypnosis and imagination.
Patients should properly increase outdoor activities and strengthen physical exercise. Healthy physique and adequate sleep are of great benefit in maintaining a happy mood.
Pay attention to oral cleaning
Avoiding oral lichen planus and keeping your mouth clean is essential. For patients with poor oral conditions, it is recommended to perform full mouth cleaning first to remove calculus and attached plaque, etc. At the same time, we must learn to use dental floss correctly to reduce the chance of growth and reproduction of pathogens in the oral cavity.
It is recommended to gargle with fresh water or warm saline after getting up in the morning, before going to bed and before and after eating. If the local mucosa is congested or eroded, chlorhexidine, borax and other mouthwashes can be used for gargle. For those who use this kind of mouthwash for a long time, it is recommended to add a sodium bicarbonate solution with a concentration of 2% to 4% to gargle. The two are used alternately to effectively prevent Candida albicans infection in the oral cavity. To brush your teeth, choose a soft-headed toothbrush with a soft head, and at the same time, you must move gently. If the local mucosa is eroded, it is recommended to wipe it with a cotton swab to avoid brushing the erosive mucosa, which further aggravates the patient’s symptoms.
In daily life, patients should pay attention to drink plenty of water to keep the oral mucosa moist. Pay attention to a balanced diet. It is recommended to choose a high-calorie, high-protein, high-vitamin, low-salt, low-sugar diet, and eat more vegetables and fruits to enhance the body’s resistance. Appropriate consumption of heat-clearing and detoxifying beverages and food. The water temperature and food temperature should be moderate to avoid excessively high and low temperatures irritating the local mucosa. Avoid foods that are too acidic, too salty, and spicy, and avoid foods such as alcohol, coffee, and strong tea.
Pay special attention to avoid eating too hard and too rough food, so as not to aggravate mucosal damage. Local mucosal erosion pain affects the eater, and can be used to rub the affected area with tetracaine at a concentration of 2% before each meal to reduce pain and facilitate eating.
The cause of oral lichen planus is unknown, and there is no special treatment so far. Patients should maintain an optimistic and cheerful mood. At the same time, their regularity of life, healthy diet, adequate sleep, and proper exercise are also very important. This is active in reducing the incidence of the disease and promoting mucosal healing.
