The journal article, written by Richard L. Wynn, PhD, mentions a study done on a patient with lichen planus, a common disease affecting the skin and oral mucus membranes. The patient drank 2.0 ounces of aloe vera juice daily and applied aloe-vera lip balm. The oral lesions cleared up in four weeks, and complete success was achieved.

Dr. Wynn cited the study as showing that oral health problems can be treated with aloe vera. "Aloe vera can be taken both as the aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel. These are the two modes of delivery recognized by the Food and Drug Administration," says Dr. Wynn.

If you are interested in using aloe vera for oral health problems, speak with your dentist about proper treatment techniques.

Use of aloe vera plants:

• Aloe vera plants are available at most plant stores and nurseries.
• Place near a window.
• Water when the soil is dry.
• Do not overwater.
• To get the gel out of the plant, use scissors to snip off an inch of the leaf.
• Squeeze the leaf that was snipped off. The gel will squeeze out.

Reviewed: January 2012