Researchers studied two women with a painful mouth condition called oral lichen planus that wouldn’t go away, even after treatment. Both women had low vitamin D levels. When doctors gave them vitamin D supplements along with their regular treatment, their mouth sores started healing better and their pain decreased. This small study suggests that checking vitamin D levels might be important for people with this stubborn mouth condition, since vitamin D helps reduce inflammation and supports healing in the mouth.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether vitamin D supplements could help treat a chronic mouth condition (oral lichen planus) that keeps coming back and doesn’t respond well to normal treatments
  • Who participated: Two women, ages 50 and 58, who had painful sores inside their mouths for 1-3 years that hadn’t improved with previous treatments
  • Key finding: Both women had low vitamin D levels, and when they received vitamin D supplements along with their regular mouth rinse treatment, their symptoms improved significantly and their mouth sores began healing better
  • What it means for you: If you have a stubborn mouth condition that won’t heal, your doctor might want to check your vitamin D levels. Adding vitamin D supplements could potentially help your mouth heal faster, though more research is needed to confirm this works for everyone

The Research Details

This is a case report, which means doctors documented what happened with two specific patients they treated. The patients had a chronic mouth condition called oral lichen planus that causes painful sores and white patterns inside the mouth. Both women had suffered with this condition for over a year despite trying other treatments. The doctors examined their mouths, confirmed the diagnosis, and then tested their vitamin D levels. When the tests showed both patients had low vitamin D, the doctors added vitamin D supplements to their treatment plan alongside the standard mouth rinse medicine they were already using.

This approach matters because oral lichen planus is difficult to treat and often keeps coming back. Understanding that vitamin D deficiency might make the condition worse could help doctors treat it more effectively. By checking vitamin D levels and fixing deficiencies, doctors might be able to help patients heal faster and have fewer painful flare-ups.

This is a small study with only two patients, so we can’t be certain the results apply to everyone. Case reports are useful for spotting patterns and ideas for future research, but they don’t prove something works for all people. The findings are interesting and worth studying further with larger groups of patients, but doctors shouldn’t change treatment plans based only on this small report.

What the Results Show

Both patients showed significant improvement after receiving vitamin D supplements. Their pain decreased noticeably, and the sores in their mouths began healing better. The women reported feeling better subjectively (how they felt) and doctors could see objective improvements (what they observed during examination). The mouth sores that had been present for years started responding to treatment once vitamin D was added to their care plan. This suggests that vitamin D deficiency may have been preventing their mouths from healing properly, even though they were receiving standard treatment.

The study found that vitamin D deficiency appeared to be a common factor in both patients with this stubborn mouth condition. The researchers noted that vitamin D plays important roles in reducing inflammation and helping skin cells grow and repair properly. When vitamin D levels are low, the mouth’s protective cells may break down faster, making sores worse and healing slower.

Previous research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency can make autoimmune conditions worse, and this case report supports that idea. Other studies have shown that vitamin D helps control immune system function and supports healing. This report adds to the evidence that vitamin D might be particularly important for people with mouth conditions related to immune system problems.

This study only included two patients, so we cannot be sure these results would happen for everyone with this mouth condition. We don’t know if the improvement was due to vitamin D alone or a combination of the vitamin D and other treatments. The study didn’t compare these patients to a control group, so we can’t be completely certain vitamin D was the reason for improvement. More research with larger groups of patients is needed to confirm these findings.

The Bottom Line

If you have a mouth condition that won’t heal, ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels. If you’re deficient, vitamin D supplements may help your mouth heal faster when combined with other treatments (moderate confidence based on this small study). This should be done under medical supervision, not as a self-treatment.

People with chronic mouth sores or oral lichen planus should pay attention to this research, especially if their condition isn’t improving with standard treatment. Women over 50 may be particularly interested since both patients in this study were in that age group. Anyone with autoimmune conditions affecting the mouth should discuss vitamin D screening with their doctor.

Based on these two cases, patients saw noticeable improvement over several weeks to months after starting vitamin D supplements, but individual results may vary. Healing is typically gradual, and it may take several months to see full benefits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track mouth pain levels daily on a 1-10 scale and note any visible changes in mouth sores (size, redness, number of sores) weekly. Also log vitamin D supplement doses taken and any dietary sources of vitamin D consumed.
  • If prescribed vitamin D supplements, set a daily reminder to take them at the same time each day. Keep a photo journal of your mouth condition weekly to visually track healing progress over time.
  • Schedule regular check-ins with your doctor every 4-6 weeks to reassess vitamin D levels and mouth condition. Use the app to track symptom patterns and share this data with your healthcare provider to help guide treatment adjustments.

This case report describes only two patients and should not be considered proof that vitamin D supplements will work for everyone with mouth conditions. Always consult with your doctor or dentist before starting any new supplements or changing your treatment plan. Vitamin D supplements can interact with certain medications and may not be appropriate for everyone. This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not self-diagnose or self-treat based on this research alone.