Thrush Adult
Overview
Risk Factors
Certain situations can weaken the immune system or change the normal bacterial balance in the mouth or body. These changes increase the risk of thrush. Other factors include:
-
Health conditions such as:
- HIV infection
- Diabetes
- Certain types of cancer
-
Certain medications such as:
- Oral or inhaled corticosteroids
- Medications that treat psychiatric conditions
- Antibiotics
-
Imbalance of healthy bacteria in the mouth which can be caused by:
- Wearing dentures or mouth guards
- Prolonged illness
- Conditions that cause a dry mouth
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
In some cases, you may not have symptoms. In those that have symptoms, thrush may cause:
- White or red patches on the inside of the cheeks or tongue that may or may not come off when rubbed
- Sore mouth or throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Differences in taste
- Fissures or cracks in the mouth
Thrush can spread beyond the mouth. Complications include infections that spread to the:
- Esophagus—the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach
- Urinary tract
- Whole body— sepsis causes multiple organ failure and death
Treatments
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to restore the normal balance of bacteria and yeast in the mouth. If any underlying conditions contribute to thrush, they will also be treated.
Treatments include:
Medications
Antifungal medications are used to treat thrush. Medications come in the form of tablets, rinses, or lozenges that dissolve in the mouth.
If you wear dentures, clean and brush them daily. You also need to clean the inside of your mouth and tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Proper Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene practices may aid in healing. This includes:
- Rinsing your mouth out with salt water
- Gently scraping off patches with a toothbrush
- Brushing your teeth at least twice a day
- Flossing your teeth at least once a day
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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a (Oral Candidiasis—Adult)
RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases http://www.nfid.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Dental Association http://www.cda-adc.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada https://www. canada.ca
References
Adults under 40. Mouth Healthy—American Dental Association website. Available at: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/adults-under-40. Accessed December 14, 2017.
Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/thrush/index.html. Updated August 4, 2017. Accessed December 14, 2017.
Dentures. Mouth Healthy—American Dental Association website. Available at: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures. Accessed December 14, 2017.
Kelland, K. Unregulated Antibiotic Sales May Increase Risk of “Superbugs”—UK Review. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2016;62(3):i-iii. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/62/3/i/2463008.
Ohnmacht GA, Phan GQ, Mavroukakis SA, et al. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effects of nystatin on the development of oral irritation in patients receiving high-dose intravenous interleukin-2. J Immunother. 2001;24(2):188-192.
Oral candidiasis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114902/Oral-candidiasis . Updated April 27, 2017. Accessed December 14, 2017.