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 an
imbalance and overgrowth of the Candida in the body in
comparison to other microorganisms. 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 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 which 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 vary 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. Unsweetened yogurt may
also be suggested for the child's diet to help restore
the natural balance of bacteria. This is also true 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 groups 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 boost to your weakening
systems.
Prevention yet again is the best for oral thrush as it has the habit of coming back. You need 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 your dentist regularly and following instructions, and if you smoke and have a past encounter with thrush it is advisable to quit smoking.
