When a yeast infection is oral (in the mouth) it is sometimes called Thrush. The yeast infections are particularly common in the vagina – they simply thrive in warm and moist parts of the body – folds of skin in the obese, the genitals, the anus and of course the mouth are all places more likely to show symptoms of the fungus, Candida Albicans overgrowth.
Causes of Thrush: Nearly all people actually have small amounts of candida already in our bodies, in our digestive tracts, on our skin, in our mouth. The growth of this fungus is kept under control by good bacteria we also have, so the fungus is usually harmless. When something happens to destroy the balance between the tow microorganisms such as medications, an illness or diet for example, the candida seizes the opportunity to multiply and its overgrowth leads to a yeast infection. Things that can cause the imbalance to occur are prolonged use of antibiotics or corticosteroids, birth control pills, diabetes, HIV, cancer treatment, and even pregnancy as there is a large hormone imbalance during that time.
The key symptoms: – White patches in the mouth on the inside of the cheeks, the gums, the throat, the roof of the mouth and the tongue; pain when swallowing; difficulty eating and drinking; lesions beneath the white spots that bleed.
Prevention: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and maintain good oral hygiene. Avoid mouthwashes and sprays as they upset the balance in the mouth. Smoking should be stopped as smokers have a much higher risk of getting Thrush.
Treatments: Yogurt is great for soothing the symptoms. Use the live bacteria kind and it will top up the good bacteria in your mouth to help fight the fungus. However you also need to deal with the root of the infection – find out what caused it in the first place and make lifestyle changes. There are over the counter treatments that can be tried, and if these do not work, visit your doctor for something stronger.
For more info on how to deal with candida, check out our candida symptoms and cure website, where you can find plenty of information on the subject. Today’s special: oral yeast infection