How To Recognize And Treat Oral Thrush

The fungus Candida albicans grows on the oral mucosa, causing a condition known as oral thrush. Although candida is a common oral microorganism, it occasionally overgrows and manifests symptoms. 

These symptoms usually include creamy white lesions who are located on your tongue and inner cheeks. If the illness is not cured there is a risk that it will spread to the roof of your mouth, gums, or the back of the throat.

While anybody can have oral thrush, newborns and elderly persons are more likely to get the infection. This is because their immune system is weaker and is unable to fight the microorganisms. Furthermore, this will also apply to those who suffer from specific medical disorders that impair their immunity.

In this blog article, we’ll go over the most common symptoms to be concerned about and how you may address them. Finding the best method for managing your symptoms is crucial, particularly if you have a weakened immune system. 

The Symptoms Of Oral Thrush

Furthermore, we will mention some of the causes and symptoms of oral thrush in children, adults, and breastfeeding mothers. Although these symptoms are not very easy to detect until the infection progresses, keep an eye out for:

Children And Adults

At first, you won’t be able to notice any differences or signs of oral thrush, but as the bacteria start to overgrow, symptoms can include:

• Oral thrush will manifest as creamy white lesions all over your mouth, especially on the tongue. However, sometimes you can also notice them in the inner cheeks or the roof of your mouth. 
• The lesions will have a cottage-like appearance and will be thick. 
• While the bacteria overgrow, you will feel soreness and notice redness around the mouth. This may cause difficulties when swallowing and eating. 
• If the lesions are scraped, they may cause bleeding and pain. 
• Sometimes, the lesions can form on the corners of your mouth, causing cracking and redness. 
• You won’t be able to taste your food the same way.
• If you have dentures, the pain and irritation will be located beneath them on the gum area. 
• In rare cases, when thrush develops in people who suffer from a weakened immune system due to illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, the symptoms will be more severe and spread down to your esophagus. If this happens, you won’t be able to eat and swallow food properly, as it will cause pain and discomfort while also giving the feeling that something is stuck down your throat. 

Infants And Breast-Feeding Mothers

It will be simple to identify oral thrush in newborns. In addition to the white lesions, the baby will experience discomfort or irritability when eating or drinking. Furthermore, there’s a chance that nurses will transmit the virus from the mother to the child if it is not appropriately treated. 

While oral thrush symptoms in babies will be similar to those in adults, women who are infected and are breastfeeding will experience symptoms like:

• Sensitive nipples.
• Redness, crackness, and itchy feeling around the nipples. 
• The feeling of discomfort or pain while breastfeeding the baby.
• Sometimes, women can feel a stabbing, sharp pain in the breast. 

Causes Of Oral Thrush

Our body is full of bad and good bacteria and the job of our immunity system is to fight these harmful bacteria while maintaining the proper balance between them. However, due to several reasons, our immunity system can fail, and the bacteria will thrive, including candida fungus. 

Some of the reasons why oral thrush can be caused include:

• Asthma medications.
• Using the same antibiotic treatment, especially if it lasts a long time or involves a high dosage. 
• If you dont have a regular dental hygiene routine.
• Tobacco use.
• If you wear dentures that dont properly fit your mouth.
• Having constant dry mouth either due to medications or a medical treatment like chemotherapy. 

Is Thrush Contagious?

Although thrush is not considered contagious among healthy adults, for those who have a weak immune system, there is a possible risk of infection. It’s uncommon for thrush to spread via kissing or other intimate contact in healthy immune system individuals. 

Thrush is usually not very infectious, which means that it doesn’t pass from person to person, but it can still be acquired by other means. It is a good idea to avoid close contact with people who have been infected, including sharing the same utensils. 

What Are The Risk Factors For Thrush?

If any of the above-mentioned issues apply to you, you may be at a higher risk of developing or worsening the symptoms of oral thrush:

• As we mentioned before, a weakened immune system is the main reason for oral thrush. Because older adults and infants have weaker immune systems, they are more prone to getting infected. The strength of our immunity system can be affected due to several reasons, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, or medications that can suppress it.
• People who have diabetes have a higher risk of developing oral thrush due to the fact that their saliva contains large amounts of sugar, which helps the bacteria grow.
•  Using antibiotics for a long time and frequently will possibly cause oral thrush since they disturb the natural balance of our body’s microorganisms.
• Another risk factor of oral thrush is some type of dental restorations like dentures, since they dry out the saliva. 
• Babies can be affected with oral thrush if the mothers have vaginal yeast infections since it can be passed during birth. These two conditions are caused by the same fungus.

What Are The Complications Of Thrush?

Although oral thrush is not considered a serious condition, this is only true for those who have a strong and healthy immune system that is capable of fighting the bad bacteria. However if your immunity system is weak, Candida can enter other areas of your body such as eyes, brain, or even heart, through blood.  Even though it is uncommon, this can result in septic shock, a potentially fatal illness. 

Prevention Of Oral Thrush

Furthermore, we will mention some useful methods that will help you reduce the possibility of being affected by oral thrush:

• If you wear dentures, it is important to check with your dentist and make sure they fit properly. Also, dont forget to take them out every night. If you are not sure how to take care of them ask your dentist for advice. 
• Take good care of your mouth. It is very important to brush your teeth and floss them at least twice a day, once in the morning and before going to sleep. 
• If you take oral medications, try to brush your teeth after taking them or rinse your mouth with water. 
• Avoid sugary or acidic food since they will help the growth of bacteria and in this case candida. 
• If you are diagnosed with diabetes, try to maintain a good blood sugar level. If you take medications regularly and keep them in control you will reduce the possibility of complications.
• If you have a vaginal yeast infection it is important to treat it before it causes any additional issues. 
• Although this may sound cliche, regular dental visits are very important especially if you have diabetes or wear dentures.
• If you have a dry mouth ask your doctors for ways to reduce it. 

Treatment Of Oral Thrush

Since fungus is spread very easily and rapidly, the treatment will aim to stop it. The treatment however will not be the same for everyone as it will depend on your age, health condition, and what is causing the infection. The treatment will also aim to avoid reoccurrence of the condition.

If the patient is healthy and has a strong immune system, the doctor will most likely recommend a course of antifungal medication. They come in different forms including oral pills, lozenges, or tablets that are dissolved in water. 

In cases where the mother or the baby is infected by breastfeeding, the doctor can recommend antifungal medication for the baby and topical cream for the breast. After the treatment is over you will be able to return back to breastfeeding as usual.

When oral thrush is caused in individuals with weak immune systems, the doctors will most likely recommend antifungal medications along with vitamins that will help strengthen it. A strong immune system will stop the infection from growing again. 

Home Remedies For Oral Thrush

Although oral thrush needs to be treated with medication, there are some home remedies that will help you manage the symptoms including:

• Use salt water to rinse the mouth.
• Change your toothbrush frequently, until the infection is completely treated. 
• Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol. 
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid pain and bleeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the common questions asked about oral thrush can be:

Is Oral Thrush Painful?

If not treated at the right time, oral thrush may cause pain and discomfort especially while eating. This feeling can also be accompanied by a burning sensation. Also in more severe cases, people can experience spots inside the mouth, that can bleed if scraped. This will result in mild pain and general soreness in the mouth.

Is Oral Thrush Contagious?

Even though oral thrush cannot be transmitted from one adult to another, when it comes to infants and parents this is not the case. Parents and their babies can pass the infection between each other during breastfeeding. 

Does Thrush Go Away By Itself?

Medication is required for oral thrush since it cannot be cured on its own. You will have the infection for a long period and run a higher risk of developing significant problems if you don’t receive the proper treatment. 

How Long Does Oral Thrush Last?

If you take the right treatment, the infection will be easily resolved. However, this will depend on the severity of the case and the effectiveness of the treatment. 

Is It Bad To Kiss With Oral Thrush?

Although oral thrush is not considered a contagious infection, kissing can make it easier for the bacteria to spread especially yeast. While oral thrush is not passed, yeast can be, and if the person has any of the risk factors they will eventually develop it. 

Should You Brush Your Teeth If You Have Oral Thrush?

Absolutely, brushing your teeth twice a day is advised if you have oral thrush in order to keep your mouth healthy and get rid of any debris or plaque that might worsen the condition. To prevent disturbing and irritating those affected regions, use a toothbrush with soft bristles. After brushing, rinse your mouth with water or a saltwater solution to help reduce discomfort and irritation.