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Oral thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans grows on the lining of your mouth. Candida is a normal organism in your mouth, but it can overgrow and cause symptoms at times.
Oral thrush causes creamy white sores on the tongue or inside of the cheeks. Oral thrush can sometimes spread to the roof of your mouth, your gums, tonsils, or the back of your throat.
Although oral thrush can affect anybody, it is more common in babies and older adults due to lower immunity; in those with impaired immune systems or specific health conditions; or in people who take certain medications. If you're healthy, oral thrush is a small issue; but, if you have a weaker immune system, symptoms may be more severe and harder to control.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ORAL THRUSH?
Adults and children
You may not even notice signs of oral thrush at first. Among the signs and symptoms are:
- Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and occasionally on the roof of your mouth, gums, and tonsils
- Lesions that are slightly elevated and resemble cottage cheese
- Redness, burning, or pain that may be severe enough to make eating or swallowing difficult
- If the lesions are rubbed or scraped, they may bleed somewhat.
- Cracking and redness around your mouth's corners
- A cottony sensation in your mouth
- Tastelessness
- Denture redness, irritation, and pain (denture stomatitis)
In severe cases, usually caused by cancer or a weakened immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS, the lesions may migrate lower into your esophagus — the long, muscular tube that connects the back of your mouth to your stomach (Candida esophagitis). If this happens, you may have trouble swallowing, pain, or the sensation that food is becoming stuck in your throat.
Infants and moms who are breast-feeding
In addition to the conspicuous white mouth sores, newborns may experience feeding difficulties or become fussy and irritable. During breast-feeding, they can spread the infection to their moms. The infection may then spread from the mother's breasts to the baby's mouth.
Women with candida in their breasts may suffer the following signs and symptoms:
- Nipples that are unusually red, sensitive, cracking, or itchy
- Skin that is shiny or flaky in the darker, circular area around the nipple (areola)
- Painful nipples between feedings or unusual pain when nursing
- Deep stabbing sensations in the breast
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ORAL THRUSH?
Normally, your immune system works to resist hazardous invading organisms like viruses, bacteria, and fungus while maintaining a balance of "good" and "bad" germs in your body. However, these protective processes can fail, allowing candida fungus to multiply and an oral thrush infection to develop.
Candida albicans is the most prevalent kind of candida fungus. A compromised immune system, for example, can raise your risk of oral thrush.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR ORAL THRUSH?
If you have any of the following conditions, you may be more susceptible to oral thrush infection:
- Weakened immunity: Because of their weakened immune systems, newborns and the elderly are especially susceptible to oral thrush. Some medical illnesses and therapies, such as cancer and associated treatments, organ transplantation and needed immunosuppressive medicines, and HIV/AIDS, might weaken your immune system.
- Diabetes: If you have untreated diabetes or the condition is poorly controlled, your saliva may contain high levels of sugar, which promotes candida growth.
- Vaginal yeast infections: The same fungus that causes oral thrush causes vaginal yeast infections. You may pass the virus on to your child.
- Medications: Drugs that disrupt the normal balance of microorganisms in your body, such as prednisone, inhaled corticosteroids, or antibiotics, can increase your risk of oral thrush.
- Other oral diseases: Wearing dentures, particularly upper dentures, or having dry mouth conditions can increase the risk of oral thrush.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF ORAL THRUSH?
For healthy children and adults, oral thrush is rarely a concern.
Thrush can be more serious in patients who have decreased immunity due to cancer treatment or HIV/AIDS. Oral thrush if untreated might progress to more dangerous systemic candida infections. Thrush can spread to your esophagus or other parts of your body if your immune system is compromised.
HOW IS ORAL THRUSH DIAGNOSED?
Thrush diagnosis is dependent on the location and the presence of an underlying cause.
If your thrush is only in your mouth
Your doctor or dentist may use the following tests to diagnose oral thrush:
- Examine your mouth for any lesions.
- Examine the lesions under a microscope with a little scraping.
- Perform a physical exam and specific blood tests as needed to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be the source of oral thrush.
If you have thrush in your esophagus
Your doctor may order any or all of the following tests to help identify thrush in your esophagus:
Biopsy: The tissue sample is cultivated on a specific medium to detect which bacteria or fungus are causing your symptoms, if any.
Endoscopic examination: During this operation, your doctor uses a lighted, flexible tube with a camera on the tip to inspect your esophagus, stomach, and upper part of your small intestine (duodenum) (endoscope).
Physical examination: A physical exam and specific blood tests may be performed if necessary to try to detect any underlying medical issue that may be causing thrush in the esophagus.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR ORAL THRUSH?
The goal of any oral thrush treatment is to stop the fungus from spreading quickly, but the ideal technique may vary depending on your age, overall health, and the cause of the illness. When possible, removing underlying causes can help to prevent recurrence.
- Adults and children in good health: Your doctor may advise you to take antifungal medication. This comes in a variety of forms, including lozenges, tablets, and a liquid that you swish about in your mouth before swallowing. If these topical treatments are ineffective, you may be given medication that operates throughout your body.
- Nursing mothers and infants: If you're breast-feeding and your baby has oral thrush, you and your baby could share the infection. Your doctor may advise you to use a moderate antifungal medicine on your infant and an antifungal lotion on your breasts.
- Adults with compromised immune systems: Typically, your doctor will prescribe antifungal medicine.
If the underlying cause, such as improperly cleansed dentures or inhaled steroid usage, is not addressed, thrush may reappear even after treatment.
HOW CAN ORAL THRUSH BE PREVENTED?
These precautions may help lower your chances of having candida infections:
- Rinse your mouth with water. If you must use a corticosteroid inhaler, make sure to rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth afterward.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day, or as often as your dentist suggests.
- Examine your dentures. At night, take out your dentures. Check that your dentures fit properly and do not irritate you. Every day, clean your dentures. Inquire with your dentist about the best approach to clean your specific type of dentures.
- See your dentist on a regular basis, particularly if you have diabetes or wear dentures. Inquire with your dentist about how frequently you should be seen.
- Take care with what you eat. Limit your consumption of sugar-containing foods. These could promote candida growth.
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control. Controlled blood sugar levels can lower the quantity of sugar in your saliva, preventing candida growth.
- As quickly as possible, treat a vaginal yeast infection.
- Dry mouth should be treated. Consult your doctor about strategies to prevent or cure dry mouth.