Recognizing and Treating Oral Thrush: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Adults

Does yours or your baby’s mouth look like this? If so, the chances are that you or they have a common fungal infection called oral thrush. Oral thrush, also known as oropharyngeal candidiasis, is a fungal infection in the mouth caused by an overgrowth of Candida yeast, usually Candida albicans. It’s common in infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, though it can occur in anyone.

Oral thrush is characterized by white, creamy lesions on the tongue, inner cheeks, roof of the mouth, gums, tonsils, or the back of the throat. These lesions can be painful and might bleed slightly when scraped. In this post, we’re going to cover what oral thrush looks like, including some real-life photos to help you better recognize it, other symptoms in both adults and babies, treatment options, and finally, prevention methods. We’ll also provide some useful tips and resources for further reading.

First of all, let’s cover what oral thrush looks like. Thrush inside the mouth will vary from person to person, but typically, you might see redness inside the mouth with white patches that resemble cottage cheese. When you attempt to wipe off these white patches, they can leave red spots that might bleed. It’s usually quite difficult to wipe off the white patches in thrush.

Other symptoms in adults include cracks at the corners of the mouth, an unpleasant taste, pain inside the mouth (such as a sore tongue or sore gums), and difficulty eating and drinking. Oral thrush in adults is not contagious, meaning you can’t spread it from one person to another.

In babies, you might notice a white coating on the tongue that looks like cottage cheese and cannot be easily rubbed off. Sometimes, there are white spots inside the mouth, and babies with oral thrush may be reluctant to feed. Another important thing to be aware of is that babies can pass oral thrush through breastfeeding, which can cause nipple thrush in mothers. Therefore, it’s crucial to get it treated if your baby has oral thrush.

So, what should you do if you think you or your baby has oral thrush? The good news is that your local pharmacist can help with oral thrush. Usually, it can be easily treated with a mouth gel available at the pharmacy. This gel is suitable for adults, children, and babies over the age of 4 months. When using the gel, follow the pharmacist’s advice and the instructions on the medicine packet. Always read the instructions and be aware of possible side effects before taking the medicine.

It's essential to treat oral thrush because if left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. In certain situations, you should see your doctor, especially if your baby is under 4 months and shows signs of oral thrush, if you don’t see any improvement after one week of treatment with a mouth gel, or if you have difficulty or pain when swallowing.

Now, how can you prevent oral thrush? Oral thrush, as mentioned earlier, is caused by a fungus called Candida. Some factors can make fungi grow more easily, so you might be more prone to getting oral thrush if you’re taking antibiotics over a long period, using asthma inhalers, or undergoing cancer treatment like chemotherapy. If this is the case, there are some steps you can take to help prevent oral thrush.

For instance, make sure to take care of your teeth by brushing twice a day, cleaning your dentures, and going to regular checkups. Even if you have dentures, you should brush your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush and rinse your mouth after eating or taking medicine. It’s also advisable to attend regular dental checkups, especially if you have a long-term condition like diabetes. Additionally, sterilize dummies (pacifiers) and baby bottles regularly after each use.

I’ve included more useful resources in the description box of the video from trusted websites if you’d like to learn more about this topic. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to get back to you.

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