I remember when my niece got oral thrush as an infant. It was, up until then, the grossest thing I’d ever heard of. Now that I know it’s pretty common among infants and what causes it, it doesn’t seem quite so bad.

What is Oral Thrush?

Oral thrush is an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans. It accumulates on the lining of the mouth—tongue, cheeks, and can sometimes spread to the lips, gums, and roof of the mouth or back of the throat.

Oral thrush is characterized by creamy white lesions that can be painful and may even bleed if they’re scraped or with teeth brushing.

Oral thrush can affect anyone, but is most common in infants and toddlers, older adults and in people with compromised immune systems where symptoms can become more serious, widespread and difficult to control. In other words, the Candida albicans fungus may infect other parts of the body simultaneously and more severely.

Symptoms of Oral Thrush

White lesions that resemble cottage cheese on the inside of the cheeks and tongue are signs of oral thrush. As mentioned above, the lesions can be painful and may bleed slightly. The symptoms commonly develop all of a sudden and may continue for quite some time.

If it’s a severe case, the lesions may spread into the esophagus (Candida esophagitis), and swallowing becomes difficult and it may feel like food has become lodged in the throat.

Healthy infants who develop oral thrush usually develop it in the first few weeks of life. Nursing mothers need to treat themselves as well as the infant; otherwise they will continue to pass the fungus back and forth between the nursing infant and the mother’s breast. The signs that a mother’s breasts are infected with candida are:

• Unusually red or sensitive nipples

• Shiny or flaky skin on the areola

• Unusual pain during nursing or painful nipples between feedings

• Stabbing pains deep within the breasts

Causes of Oral Thrush

Microorganisms live in and on your body. These viruses, bacteria and fungi in the “right” balanced proportions stimulate your immune system, create essential vitamins, and help protect against the harmful viruses and bacteria. When the relationship becomes unbalanced, the “bad” microbes overtake the “good” ones and cause an infection. A weakened immune system caused by disease or drugs (like Prednisone), or antibiotics are some factors that may cause an imbalance of microorganisms in the body. The reason it’s so common in infants is because they’re immune systems aren’t yet fully developed.

Home Remedies for Oral Thrush

The primary goal of oral thrush remedies is to stop the growth of the fungus.
Home Remedies for adults:

• Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to one cup cool water. Gargle with solution. Do not swallow. After gargling, dip a cotton swab in undiluted apple cider vinegar and apply directly on to the oral sores. Do not rinse. Allow to stand overnight.

• Mix a few drops of tea tree oil (approximately 5 to 8 drops) into a glass of either warm or cold water. Gargle the mixture for about a minute. Let the solution touch all the parts of the mouth (throat, palate, cheek lining). Be careful not to swallow the solution. Gargle two times a day (preferably once in the morning and once before sleeping).

• Drinking buttermilk is a traditional oral thrush home remedy.

• Garlic has anti-fungal properties, and tablets from the health food store may help during an outbreak of thrush.

Home Remedies for Infants and toddlers:

• Treating oral thrush in toddlers may involve the use of antibiotics or the addition of unsweetened yogurt to the diet to balance the body’s bacteria.

-Anne

Do you have any home remedies for Oral Thrush? Comment and share them with us!

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