Oral thrush by any other name…

Oral thrush has numerous names it goes by. It is also known as thrush, thrush mouth, oral candidiasis, oral yeast infection, and moniliasis. To be very technical with the names, oral thrush actually just refers to the yeast infection babies and toddlers get inside their mouths. Yeast infections which affect adults’ mouths are specifically called oral candidiasis or moniliasis.

Yeast infections begin when the natural yeast fungi which resides inside your body starts to multiply too rapidly for your immune system to keep it in check. The infection then sets in and manifests itself in numerous different ways. According to where it is on your body, the names of the yeast infections are different, and the causes, symptoms, and treatments can all vary. Besides oral candidiasis, there is also nipple thrush, vaginal yeast infections, yeast diaper rash, and male yeast infections.

Our bodies naturally have yeast inside us to actually help us out. The technical name for yeast in the body is Candida albicans. It helps to locate harmful bacteria infesting the body, and then to kill it. It coincides with our immune system to help protect our body from the millions of bacteria which are constantly attacking. However, when conditions are just right, the helpful yeast turns nasty and results in the yeast infections so many individuals are familiar with.

Candida albicans likes warm, moist areas where it can grow and feed. Consequently, places such as the oral cavity can be the perfect breeding ground for yeast infections.

Even though yeast infections are generally thought of as female problems, they often affect men, as well. It is not as common for men to get yeast infections. When men do, they tend to ignore it or put off seeking treatment for it, mostly because they are either too embarrassed or not familiar enough with yeast infections to know they are experiencing one. Yeast infections can be embarrassing, but they are facts of life, just like any other disease. Men and women can both experience yeast infections. And oral thrush, or oral yeast infections, are no exception.

Yeast infections are commonly thought to be a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, while Candida albicans can be spread through sex, it is not considered an STD. Those who practice abstinence can still get yeast infections.

With oral yeast infections, both men and women can get them. It is common in babies up to toddler, though the chances of getting oral thrush as the baby grows are less. Unless certain factors work together in the body, most growing children and adults do not experience oral yeast infection. The elderly, though, are more prone to oral candidiasis.

Causes of oral yeast infections

Oral thrush in babies and oral candidiasis in adults are the result of numerous issues affecting your body. The most common is a compromised immune system. When your body’s ability to fight infections is down, any number of problems can affect you. A lowered immune system can be due to many factors. A severe, recent illness can leave your resistance suppressed and tired, consequently unable to fight any other diseases which come its way. Those with HIV are highly prone to oral yeast infections, due to the fact that their immune system is shot. Immune systems are also down if you have recently had an organ transplant. High stress levels also cause your body to be unable to effectively fight infections such as thrush. Those who are very young or very old also have lowered capabilities to ward off pathogens.

Antibiotics also tend to greatly increase a person’s chance to get oral yeast infections. The purpose of antibiotics is to fight off bacteria which are causing a person to be sick. Sometimes, though, antibiotics overdo their job and they kill off too much bacteria. As bacteria are used to keep the natural yeast fungi in our bodies in check, the yeast now has a chance to grow and expand.

Diabetics who do not control their blood sugars are at a high risk for oral candidiasis. The yeast fungi feed of the sugar present in saliva. Consequently, when more sugar than normal is present in the mouth, the yeast is able to feast on an explosion in their food, and therefore is able to grown rapidly.

Besides having a lowered immune system, the elderly are also prone to oral yeast infections if they wear dentures. Especially if the dentures are ill fitting, the yeast has the perfect spot under the dentures to develop, as that area is particularly moist and warm.

On the other hand, babies can get thrush especially if their moms have nipple thrush. This yeast infection is then passed from the mother onto the baby when she breastfeeds.

Those with tongue piercings or who are undergoing chemotherapy or use an asthma inhaler can all be more easily affected by moniliasis.

Symptoms of oral thrush and moniliasis

No infection is in any way enjoyable to have, and oral yeast infections are no exception to the rule. Symptoms of oral thrush and moniliasis are fairly simple to diagnose.

For starters, oral yeast infections show up in your mouth (rather obviously). It normally appears on the tongue. But it can spread to the roof of the mouth, the sides of the cheeks, the gums, the back of the throat, even to the tonsils. With severe (and serious) cases of oral candidiasis, the infection will spread down into the esophagus.

The yeast infection will produce creamy whitish spots. They cover red bumps, or lesions, which is the inflammation. These lesions can bleed some if they are scraped and are tender.

Most adults say they experience pain and burning with their oral yeast infections. It can make the mouth feel cottony, and even take away your sense of taste. Sometimes the sides of the mouth will crack, producing painful sores.

If it is the first time you have experience an oral yeast infection, it would not hurt to make an appointment with your doctor to make sure you know what you are dealing with. Usually, a doctor can tell if it is a yeast infection by just looking at your mouth. Sometimes, though, he may take a small culture to run a test on it. More severe yeast infections, such as ones which extend down your throat into your esophagus will definitely need your doctor’s attention. He will take a throat culture, or even an endoscopic examination for the most serious cases.

Various treatments for oral yeast infections

Oral candidiasis and oral thrush usually go away on their own within a couple weeks. In the meantime, however, you or your child is left with a painful, embarrassing rash in your mouth.  Getting started on thrush treatment as soon as you notice it developing will help not only get rid of the yeast infection but also prevent it from spreading or getting worse.

There are many treatment options available for thrush remedies. Of course, you can always get an appointment with your doctor and get a prescription. There are also several over the counter medications which work very effectively. And, of course, there are numerous home remedies which individuals swear by to cure their ailments. Some are very popular and have been known to work very well.

Prescribed

To get a prescription for your first oral yeast infection, you will need to see your doctor. This is a wise route to go anyway if you have never experienced thrush before. Your doctor or dentist can make sure you are indeed suffering from oral candidiasis, as well as make any further tests if he thinks there could be further concerns. Especially if a yeast infection is present in the mouth of an older child, teenager, or adult, oral yeast infection could be a sign of other health problems previously undiagnosed. This could include diabetes or even HIV.

If your oral yeast infection is particularly bad (such as extending down into your esophagus), more invasive treatment may be needed. In this case, you should definitely make an appointment with your doctor, regardless if this is not your first oral candidiasis.

Whether you particularly feel like attacking your oral yeast infection or not (why wouldn’t you, anyway?), it is a wise choice to start treatment as soon as possible. Oral candidiasis can quickly turn into diaper yeast infection in babies or vaginal yeast infections in women. This occurs when the oral yeast infection travels down the digestive tract and then out of your body, causing even more pain and discomfort. Treating oral yeast infection now can prevent further yeast infections later.

Your doctor may prescribe creams or lozenges or a wash for you to take. There are also oral tablets to take. Depending on how severe your oral yeast infection is, the prescription will vary. All will have anti-fungal base to attack the yeast fungi overgrowing inside your mouth.

Over the counter

Numerous effective over the counter nystatin creams, washes, and clotrimazole lozenges also exist, making it simple for you to head over to your local drug store and pick up a treatment. You could call your dentist for recommendations on what over the counter medications he would recommend, if you do not know where to start.

Home remedies

Natural cures for thrush can be found right in your home, making it simple for you to get a non-medical yet effective treatment for your oral yeast infection. No medical studies have actually fully guaranteed the success of home remedies, but many people who have suffered from oral yeast infections have had great success with natural cures and highly recommend them to others.

Brush your teeth with a diluted (3%) hydrogen peroxide several times per day. Or rinse with a saltwater mixture, containing half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in one cup of warm water. Swish this around your mouth and spit out.

Plain, unsweetened yogurt is very frequently used to eliminate many different types of yeast infections. While it does not fight fungi, it does help return the correct pH balance to your mouth, thus eliminating overgrown yeast.

Garlic is considered a powerful agent to fight oral yeast infections, and is considered to have anti-fungal qualities. You can get garlic through eating raw garlic cloves or taking garlic pills.

Gentian violet is another popular natural remedy for oral yeast infections. You can usually find it at a health store. It is a deep purple color and stains everything it comes into contact with. It is mainly used to fight nipple thrush in nursing mothers or to help infant’s oral thrush. Otherwise if you as an adult do choose to go with gentian violet, you will be walking with a very purple mouth for a few days.

Prevention

Of course, it would be great to not even have to worry about dealing with oral yeast infections to begin with. One of the best preventions for oral thrush is to prevent it in the first place.

Practice good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing regularly. If you wear dentures, make sure you remove them every night before you head to bed. Let them soak overnight in a denture cleaner to make sure they are clean when you put them back in the next morning.

Eat a healthy diet and exercise frequently. This may seem like a recommendation which would fit any health prevention list, but eating well and making a habit of exercising have tremendous benefits. It keeps your body running and feeling well. It keeps the immune system working strongly, reduces stress, and prevents diabetes, to mention a few.

If you are diabetic, be sure to check your blood sugar often and keep your sugar levels regulated. This may be done through diet, exercise, or insulin.

If you are mother nursing your child and you develop nipple thrush, wear a nipple shield when breastfeeding to help prevent giving your baby oral thrush. Yeast infections can easily be passed back and forth between a nursing mother and her child. Treat your nipple thrush immediately and me sure the nipple does not come in direct contact with the baby. Doctors really are not sure why some mothers and their babies are more prone to oral and nipple thrush than others, as there does not seem like one significant reason why babies or mothers develop it.