A healthy person may suffer typically various types of microorganisms, including fungi, in their mouth. These microorganisms, called normal flora, usually don’t make you sick. However, if your immune system is weakened, these microbes might grow too much and cause problems. Oral thrush is one example, where fungal overgrowth in your mouth leads to symptoms like white patches or soreness. In this blog, we are going to discuss Oral Thrush, its symptoms, How to treat thrush, some home remedies, and a conclusion at the end. Let us get started:
What Is Oral Thrush?
Oral thrush, medically referred to as oral candidiasis, is an infection of the mouth caused by a group of fungi known as Candida. The hallmark of this type of candidiasis is the presence of white patches in the oral cavity.
Symptoms of Oral Thrush:
- Â Unpleasant taste, especially upon waking up, or a total loss of taste.
- Â Increased redness of the throat and the entire oral mucosa (mouth walls).
- Â Cracking and pain at the corners of the mouth.
- Â Difficulty in chewing and swallowing when the infection involves the throat.
You may experience all the mentioned symptoms of oral thrush or just a few of them. The sign of the infection varies from one individual to another depending on the immune status and personal oral hygiene.
Brushing can dislodge the mouth plaques and cause mild bleeding. However, beyond that, oral thrush is not considered a serious infection.
How Do You Treat Oral Thrush?
Mild cases of thrush often go away on their own without needing medical treatment. If you have a healthy immune system, the infection usually clears up within a few days by simply maintaining good oral hygiene.
Some Home Remedies for Oral Thrush:
- For more severe cases, medical assistance is necessary. Typically, antifungal thrush treatment is highly effective. Doctors commonly prescribe topical and systemic medications to tackle serious infections. Prescription mouthwash can also help relieve symptoms.
- Topical treatment involves applying antifungal gels or suspensions directly to the mouth. You’ll likely need to use these thrush treatments several times a day or as instructed by your doctor.
- In more serious cases, you may require systemic medications, which can be taken orally or intravenously, especially if the infection risks spreading to other parts of the body. Your doctor will assess your condition and determine the best course of action.
- While antifungal drugs for treating oral thrush are generally safe, they may cause some side effects such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or bloating. In certain instances, oral thrush might be triggered by prolonged use of specific prescription medications like corticosteroids. In such cases, adjusting the dosage or stopping the medication may be necessary to manage thrush.
- Diagnosing thrush typically involves a visual examination, along with discussing your medical history with the doctor. They’ll examine your mouth and ask your questions to understand your situation better.
What if You Don’t Treat Oral Thrush?
For healthy individuals, oral thrush typically isn’t a big concern. It’s usually mild and goes away on its own without needing treatment. However, if left untreated, oral thrush can escalate into a serious infection that affects multiple organs, especially in people with weakened immune systems. This can involve organs like the heart and lungs. People with weakened immune systems have a harder time fighting off illnesses. Many of them also have other health conditions such as HIV, diabetes, or cancer.
What are Some Home Remedies for Thrush?
If your oral cavity isn’t too severe, there are simple remedies you can try at home to ease discomfort and clear it up. Let us look at them:
- One option is to eat active-culture yogurt, which contains helpful bacteria that fight the yeast causing thrush.
- However, if you’re thinking of giving yogurt to children, especially young ones, it’s best to check with a healthcare professional first.
- If you’re experiencing itching or burning from thrush, drinking cold beverages can help temporarily. Smoothies, cold drinks, and chilled soups are easy-to-swallow choices to consider.
- Another home remedy is gargling with warm saltwater. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and gargle with it to soothe a sore throat.
- Keeping your mouth clean is crucial. Brush your teeth, tongue, and gums at least twice a day using a soft toothbrush. After eating, rinse your mouth with water to remove food particles that could fuel thrush growth.
- Â If you wear dentures, ensure they’re cleaned regularly to prevent thrush. Avoid using mouthwashes containing alcohol, as they can worsen the burning sensation of thrush.
Conclusion
Although oral thrush is usually not serious and may not require immediate medical attention, it’s crucial to see a doctor if you experience any symptoms. Your doctor will check your mouth and might perform tests to confirm the diagnosis. While oral thrush is rare in healthy individuals, it’s more common in people with advanced AIDS. If you are looking for the best dentist your search has ended here. You should consult the best dentists at NorthEast Dental View.