Oral Thrush

ORAL THRUSH is caused by overgrowth of a fungus - Candida albicans - in your mouth. It is not normal in adults but can be in breastfeeding babies. In adults, oral thrush can be a symptom of any disease which lowers your body's immune system defences.

Oral Thrush Cause

• Diabetes
• Medications like prednisone or asthma steroid puffers.
• HIV AIDS - this virus gradually kills white blood cells needed to fight infection.
• Leukemia - this is an overgrowth of one white cell type at the expense of the others.
• Hereditary immune defects - some persons are born with defects in their ability to fight infections.

Oral Thrush Symptoms

• White fuzzy plaques along the inside of your mouth.
• White spots coating your tongue that do not scrape off.
• Soreness of your tongue.
• Bleeding when scraped.

Picture of Tongue Thrush

Oral Thrush Treatment

• Swish and swallow with antifungal mouth washes 3 to 4 times daily until the thrush clears.
• Tablet antifungal treatment for resistant or severe cases of oral thrush.
• Treating any predisposing illnesses to oral thrush like diabetes.
• Eat yogurt with live bacteria to restore balance to your mouth's flora.

Doctor Secrets! Many people with a white film across their tongue think its oral thrush. But it's actually dead cells and bacterial scum build up. Treat it by using a tongue scraper after brushing your teeth.

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