ORAL CANDIDIASIS - Thrush

ORAL CANDIDIASIS – Thrush

Jul 09, 2017 News

By Dr. Neromini Fagu

Oral candidiasis is the most prevalent infectious disease of the oral mucosa. It is also known as

Oral Thrush: White patches on the tongue and cheek

oral thrush. Most of us are familiar with oral thrush in babies. It is usually seen as a white film on the tongue of infants. The condition is a fungal yeast infection caused by an imbalance of tiny organisms in our mouth. These organisms belong to the group Candida.

There are over 20 species of Candida that cause infections in humans, and C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabra together comprise over 80% of the fungal species responsible for Candida infections in the oral cavity. C. albicans is found in the mouths of about 50% of the world’s population as a normal component of the oral microflora.

In addition to the mouth, small amounts of the candida fungus are in the digestive tract and skin. It’s supposed to be there and it’s usually kept under control by the other bacteria in your body. However, sometimes certain illnesses or medications like corticosteroids or antibiotics can disturb the balance. This can cause the fungus to grow out of control resulting in oral thrush.

Oral thrush can affect anyone, but it’s more likely to occur in babies, the elderly, in people with compromised immune systems or certain health conditions, or those who take certain medications. For healthy people it is a minor problem but for persons in the aforementioned categories, it may be more severe and difficult to control.

The local and general predisposing factors for oral candidiasis include:

Wearing dentures
Smoking
Steroid use – inhalation and topical
Oral microflora imbalance
Quality and quantity of saliva
Immunosuppressive disease
Chemotherapy
Endocrine disorders

Common signs of thrush include white, slightly raised areas in your mouth, usually found on the tongue or inner cheeks. They can also appear on the roof of your mouth, gums, tonsils, or the back of your throat. These areas may look like cottage cheese. They can be painful and may bleed slightly when you scrape them or brush your teeth.

In very bad cases, they can spread into your esophagus and cause pain when you swallow or cause difficulty swallowing. Some people may experience a feeling that food is stuck in their throat or in the middle of their chest. If the infection spreads beyond the esophagus, fever may develop.

Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medications. Prevention methods of the condition may include practising good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. You should get regular dental checkups, especially if you have diabetes or wear dentures. Even if you’re healthy and don’t have dental issues, you should get your teeth cleaned by your dentist every six months.

If you have chronic health issues, it should be treated as soon as possible. Conditions such as HIV or diabetes can disturb the balance of bacteria in your body and lead to thrush, so it is important that you take your medications regularly for these conditions.

Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash once or twice a day will help to keep your teeth and gums healthy. However, you should not overuse mouthwashes or sprays as these may upset the normal balance of organisms in your mouth. If you have a condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you need to clean your inhalers after each use to kill germs.

You should also limit foods that contain sugar and yeast such as bread, beer, and wine as they will cause extra yeast growth. If you smoke, try your best to quit. This is good not only for your oral health but for your overall health as well.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].