Fungi that reside in your oral cavity are opportunistic microorganisms that attack your body when you least expect them to. One of the common oral fungus infections is oral thrush caused by candidiasis. You shouldn’t be worried too much about oral thrush as it surfaces when your immune system is weak. Hence, oral thrush affects children and the elderly the most. Nevertheless, oral thrush can be treated and, more importantly, prevented.
Signs Of Oral Thrush:
Suspecting that candidiasis has taken the reins? Well, you can’t be sure unless you know about these symptoms of oral thrush:
- White spots appear on the tongue and inner cheeks. This is a common symptom. However, at times there might not be any white spots. On the contrary, they are maybe red and sore.
- These white lesions are accompanied by pain in your regular mouth motions, such as while eating or talking.
- White spots are easily irritated and may start to bleed when you touch them, for example, during brushing.
- A cottony feeling may develop in your mouth.
- You notice a significant loss in taste.
Sores and lesions caused by oral thrush may not disappear on their own, as in the case of canker sores and other sores. Therefore, if sores in your mouth stay put for more than a week, it’s best to visit a doctor.
Risk Factors Of Developing Oral Thrush:
Adults With Compromised Immune System: The immune system gets weaker as we age, and some drugs and diseases may suppress the immune system. In such cases, the risk of contracting oral thrush increases significantly. Moreover, oral thrush can spread to other organs like lungs and intestines if not treated timely. In case of gastric infection, malnutrition may incur.
Infants: Oral thrush may develop in newborns, and when that happens, the baby can get all fussy during the feeding. You can inspect the baby’s mouth for the above symptoms. However, oral thrush can pass on from the child to the mother due to feedings. Consequently, reinfection can occur when the baby’s mouth heals from the infection because the mother passes on the fungus. Therefore, the fungal cycle may continue unless oral thrush is treated promptly.
Prevention:
Check Your Dentures: Make sure your dentures fit properly and don’t cause any irritation, try to take out the dentures during the night and clean them because fungal spores might cling to these dentures.
Limit Sugar And Yeast Containing Foods: Sugar is bad for your teeth, so you should try to avoid it anyway. Moreover, sugar is a primary food source for microorganisms, and it will promote the growth of oral thrush. Furthermore, yeast-containing foods like bread can promote candidiasis growth, so avoid sugary and yeast-containing foods to keep oral thrush at bay.
Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene: Never let go of the three horsemen of oral hygiene: brushing, floss, and mouthwash. Furthermore, visit your dentist for half-yearly checkups; this will help you keep track of your oral hygiene. For your yearly checkups, give Brookshire Family Dental a chance. Call us at 281-934-1010 for inquiries.