Main Menu. Oral Thrush is an infection of the skin tissue lining the mouth mucous membrane with a yeast organism known as candida. There are eight types of candida known to cause infection in humans and candida albicans is by far the most common. Thrush is a very common fungal infection affecting areas of the body where mucous membrane is present i. Candida is normally considered to be a harmless parasite that exists within the human body along with other similar micro-organisms. Illness, medications and lifestyle factors can contribute to an imbalance in the body which allows a previously harmless organism to multiply and change. This imbalance, which adversely affects the immune response, causes the organism to change, enabling it to attach itself to cells on the surface of Mucous membrane then to grow and invade the surrounding and deeper skin layers. Not all people have candida colonies in the mouth and these people are unlikely to ever develop Oral Thrush. Certain people within this group are at greater risk of developing Oral Thrush.
Check if it's oral thrush
How to treat oral thrush
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Oral thrush , also called oral candidiasis, is a yeast infection of the mouth. However, you may be able to help manage bothersome symptoms with home remedies, too. Doctors often prescribe antifungal medications in the form of mouthwashes, pills, or lozenges. The following home remedies, used in addition to antifungal medications, may help relieve symptoms of the infection.
Common tests and procedures
The treatment for oral thrush depends completely on the severity of the infection and what has caused it. Oral thrush medication comes in the forms of gels or liquids that are applied directly into your mouth; these can be applied several times a day to treat the infection. Other oral thrush medication is available in capsule or tablets form; these contain antifungals which can help to rebalance the levels of bacteria inside your body. Your GP will be able to prescribe antifungal medicines and your pharmacist in your local high street store can also advise on over the counter thrush treatments might be suitable for you. There are certain precautions you can take to reduce your risk of developing oral thrush in the future, such as regularly changing your toothbrush, not smoking and wearing properly fitting dentures. There are also things you can do while you have mouth thrush which can help to ease symptoms and sop the infection from getting worse. If left untreated it is likely that the thrush infection will persist, and it can spread to other parts of the body. Your GP or Pharmacists will be able to advise on treatments as well as other precautions you can take to stop you developing the infection in the future.
Oral thrush is an infection in your mouth usually caused by a fungus yeast called Candida albicans. It is usually harmless. Candida a fungus usually lives in your mouth without causing any problems. Candida can grow quickly and cause an infection if you have an underlying condition and when some medicines are used. If you are breastfeeding and your baby has oral thrush, both you and your baby can have symptoms. For you this can include:. See your pharmacist or doctor if you think you have any symptoms of oral thrush or if you are worried. They will ask you questions about your symptoms, including whether you are taking any medicines or have any underlying medical conditions. They may look into your mouth.
