

A dry, cotton- or sandpaper-like feeling.ĭr.Cracking of your tongue or corners of your lips.So how do you know if you have oral thrush versus a normal tongue? Common signs include: It can be challenging to know if your mouth woes are related to the Candida fungus that causes thrush. Thrush can quickly become irritated and cause mouth pain and redness. In your mouth, thrush can look like cottage cheese - white, raised lesions on your tongue and cheeks. Mouth and throat thrush is called oropharyngeal candidiasis. Thrush is caused by the overgrowth of a type of fungus called Candida. Thrush is a fungal infection that can grow in your mouth, throat and other parts of your body.

While thrush typically goes away on its own, there are home remedies you can use to help speed up recovery or alleviate pain. “People who have conditions that affect the immune system are also more susceptible.” “We usually see thrush in children, whose immune systems are developing, or older adults, whose immune systems are starting to fail,” says otolaryngologist Tony Reisman, MD. Thrush can strike anyone, but some people are far more vulnerable. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. June 5, 2017.Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Oral fungal infections: Diagnosis and management. Interventions for the management of esophageal candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Treatment of oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. Clinical manifestations of oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oropharyngeal/esophageal candidiasis ("thrush").Do you have any other new symptoms of illness?.Do you have any long-term health conditions?.Do you have asthma? If so, do you use a steroid inhaler?.Have you recently taken antibiotics for an infection?.When did you begin experiencing symptoms?.Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. The doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. However, if you have an underlying condition that's contributing to the problem, you may be referred to a specialist for treatment. You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or pediatrician. Ask your doctor about the best way to clean your breast nipples, bottle nipples, pacifiers and any detachable parts of a breast pump if you use one. Look for pads that don't have a plastic barrier, which can encourage the growth of candida. If you're breast-feeding and develop a fungal infection, use pads to help prevent the fungus from spreading to your clothes. Swish the rinse and then spit it out, but don't swallow. Dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of salt in 1 cup (237 milliliters) of warm water. Ask your dentist for the best way to disinfect your dentures to avoid reinfection. Replace your toothbrush often until your infection clears up. These suggestions may help during an outbreak of oral thrush: Thrush may return even after it's been treated if the underlying cause, such as poorly disinfected dentures or inhaled steroid use, isn't addressed.Įxplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Most often your doctor will recommend antifungal medication. Your doctor may prescribe a mild antifungal medication for your baby and an antifungal cream for your breasts. If you're breast-feeding and your infant has oral thrush, you and your baby could pass the infection back and forth. If these topical medications are not effective, medication may be given that works throughout your body. This comes in several forms, including lozenges, tablets, or a liquid that you swish in your mouth and then swallow. Your doctor may recommend antifungal medication. Eliminating underlying causes, when possible, can prevent recurrence. The goal of any oral thrush treatment is to stop the rapid spread of the fungus, but the best approach may depend on your age, your overall health and the cause of the infection.
