Oral
Thrush is an
infection of the mouth which is caused by the Candida fungus. Under
this condition the fungus Candida albicans accumulates
on the lining of your mouth causing creamy white
lesions, usually on your tongue or inner cheeks.
Oral
thrush occurs
due to imbalance and overgrowth of the Candida in the
body in comparison to other micro-organisms. Small
amounts of the Candida fungus are present in the mouth,
digestive tract, and skin of most healthy people and are
normally kept in check by other bacteria and
microorganisms in the body. However due to certain
illnesses, improper food habits or medications can
disturb the delicate balance, causing the Candida to
grow out of control, causing the
infection.
In simple
words the cause of Oral thrush and
other Candida infections is a weak immune system may be
because of a disease or drugs, or when antibiotics
disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in your
body.
Oral
thrush usually
develops suddenly, but it may become chronic, persisting
over a long period of time. The common symptoms of
thrush are pain or difficulty swallowing, feeling that
food gets stuck in the throat or mid-chest area or fever,
if the infection spreads beyond the esophagus. Thrush is
common among infants and toddlers as they have a less
developed immune system but anyone can develop oral thrush
when the system is delicate and susceptible to
infections.
The
treatments for thrush therefore wary from person to
person, depend upon the age and cause of infection
though the aim remains to stop the spread of the fungus.
Toddlers with this infection follow a course of
antibiotics as per the doctor and unsweetened yogurt may
also be suggested to the child's diet to help restore
the natural balance of bacteria, which is also
prescribed for adults.
For a breast-feeding
infant who has oral thrush,
both the mother and the baby need to be treated with
antifungal medication for the baby and an antifungal
cream for mother. However, all medical treatments have
one common downside: they are aimed at tackling the
symptoms of oral thrush
while neglecting its root cause. Therefore, medications
cannot prevent Candida infection recurrence and create a
long term dependency.
The one
thing that remains common in all age group is the
treatment which most specialists suggest, holistic
treatment. The holistic approach to such infections give
you the best natural cure minus the side effects adding
the much needed boast to you weakening
systems.
Prevention
yet again is the best for oral thrush as it has the
habit of coming back. One has to reduce your risk of
developing Candida infections by limiting the amount of
sugar and yeast-containing foods. Oral thrush
needs preventive measures like following proper oral
hygiene practices, visiting dentist regularly and follow
instructions, and if one smokes and has a past encounter
with thrush it is more than advisable to quit smoking.
