Caused by the fungus Candida Albicans, oral yeast infection is also known as Thrush. Yeast infections can affect other parts of the body too – the vagina most commonly but also nails, folds of skin, the anus and so on. Generally, where it’s warm and moist is the best place for the the fungus to breed.

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.

What Thrush looks like: It is quite recognizable when you have Thrush. White spots appear on the inside of the mouth, cheeks, tongue and possibly going back down the throat. When touched, they hurt and if scraped the area may bleed and lesions may appear. If it has spread back and to the esophagus then it may be hard to swallow and consume anything, with the feeling of food being lodged at the back all the time.

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.

Key treatment options: There is a lot of discussion going on nowadays about natural treatment versus medicated for yeast infections. The choice has to be yours as there are some people that get good results with over the counter products, and then some that do not. Whether you choose the medicated lozenges etc to treat your Thrush, or whether you choose something like plain probiotic yogurt, you still are just treating the symptoms. There was a trigger that caused that overgrowth and you need to identify it and deal with it to really ensure it does not happen again.

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