Although many people think that oral thrush in adults affects mainly women this is incorrect. Both men and women as well as old and young people can suffer from the condition which occurs when there a yeast called Candida is allowed to get out of control. Most commonly this will happen if you are diabetic or suffering from anemia or a compromised immune system.
Thrush is a condition that can be present in the body for a while before it gets the right conditions to flourish. The first recognizable symptoms will include white lesions on your tongue and inner cheecks. This is often accompanied by splitting at the corners of your mouth and in many cases the presence of a cottage cheese like substance which coats the roof of your mouth and tonsils.
In some more serious cases the infection can spread to your oesophagus, which will become painful and make swallowing very difficult. Should this be the case then your health care professional will carry out a throat culture to figure out what particular microorganisms are creating the infection – Candida bacteria that spread to the esophagus are normally treated immediately.
Thrush is a very opportunistic infection and whenever your internal balance of bacteria is affacted then you have a heightened risk of developing the condition. The most well known factor to affect your internal flora is the over use of antibiotics which destroy both good and bad bacteria in your system. Other factors which can compromise your immune system are the HIV/AIDS complex and chemotherapy.
Except in the most severe cases, choosing natural remedies to treat thrush is a sensible option because you avoid the negative side effects than come from traditional prescription medications. For example, doctors will very often advise the use of an antifungal pharmaceutical but the danger is that antifungal medications can damage you liver. In the same way oral solutions and sprays may eradicate your symptoms but will also change the balance of flora in your mouth and can lead to longer term problems.
Rather than relying on potentially damaging prescription drugs, simple methods that are likely to lead to the long term eradication of thrush include unsweetened yogurt and acidophilus tablets both of which can successfully rebalance the optimum mix of bacteria in your body. Cutting down on sugar and yeast promoting foods are also beneficial in creating a supportive environment allowing healthy bacteria to flourish.
You can increase the impact of these simple remedies by taking extra care with your oral hygiene. For example, be sure to do the basics regularly: brush your teeth, floss and replace your toothbrush often. Lastly, you will find that regularly gargling with salt water, extra virgin coconut oil or a tea tree oil solution can have enormous benefits.
Looking to find the lowdown on thrush in adults, then visit www.thrushinadults.com to find the best advice on natural thrush remedies that provide long lasting relief.