Written By Kassandra Foreman / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Oral thrush is a yeast infection that occurs within the mouth and is most common in young children but can develop in adults as well. It can be passed from one person to another and is often passed amongst children through sharing of toys or in families by sharing eating utensils.

This happens when naturally occurring candida begins to grow at a faster than normal rate and may gather on the tongue and cheeks. This can spread to the entire mouth, cheeks, gums, tongue and then the tonsils, roof of the mouth, and to the back of the throat.  

White lesions and oral thrush

To check for signs of oral thrush look for white lesions within the mouth. Redness, soreness, and bleeding may occur when they are scraped, taste may be affected, and the mouth may feel like there is cotton present. These may spread throughout the entire mouth, tongue, cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, and even towards the throat.

As the infection spreads and worsens it may affect the ability to swallow easily and the pain may increase. If a baby is nursing the infection can be passed back and forth between the mother and the child, so both must be treated.

Weakened immune system and oral thrush

An oral thrush infection is more likely to occur in those who have a weakened immune system as it is unable to combat the infection effectively. Those with diabetes, and people who wear dentures, may have increased occurrences of oral thrush as well as those who have dry mouth. Certain medications can also increase the risk.

These include inhaled corticosteroids, prednisone, and antibiotics, as they will affect the balance of good and bad bacteria within the mouth and cause imbalances that increase the risk of infection.

Antifungal medicine for oral thrush

To treat oral thrush an antifungal medication is typically prescribed. It can be taken in several forms including lozenges, mouth rinse, as a paste or cream that is applied to the effected areas, or an oral medication may be provided if the infection has begun to spread throughout the body. If a nursing mother has oral thrush she will be treated with a cream applied to the area and the baby will be treated as well.

Oral thrush is an infection that occurs within the mouth and can be passed from person to person, including from a nursing baby to its mother. This is treated with an antifungal that is often in the form of a mouth rinse or a cream applied directly to the mouth.

It appears as white substance that gathers on the tongue and can spread to the cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth, and even to the tonsils and the throat if left untreated. This infection can be painful, cause bleeding within the mouth, and make it hard to swallow.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Kassandra Foreman has been writing freelance for five years now and enjoys learning about new things to write about. When not writing she teaches yoga and meditation with a focus on health and fitness.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.