Oral thrush in adults
Oral thrush in adults
Oral thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth. It doesn't spread to other people, and antifungal medicine usually clears it up without much trouble.
You may also hear it called oral candidosis (or candidiasis), named after Candida, the group of yeasts that cause it.
Get in touch with your GP practice if you notice signs of oral thrush, such as:
- white patches in the mouth that often wipe away, leaving red areas underneath that may bleed a little
- a loss of taste, or a strange, unpleasant taste that won't go away
- redness inside the mouth and throat
- cracked skin at the corners of the mouth
- a sore, burning feeling in the mouth
For some people, these symptoms make it hard to eat or drink comfortably. If the infection isn't treated, the discomfort tends to stick around rather than fade on its own, and in more severe, untreated cases, there's a chance the infection could spread further into the body, which is a serious concern.
Your GP can usually tell it's oral thrush just by looking inside your mouth. They may also suggest a blood test in some cases, mainly to check for underlying conditions linked to oral thrush, such as diabetes or a lack of certain nutrients in your diet.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
What causes oral thrush?
Small amounts of a fungus called Candida live naturally in the mouth and digestive tract of most people, without causing any trouble. But if this fungus multiplies, it can lead to oral thrush.
A number of things can allow this to happen, including:
- taking a course of antibiotics, especially a long course or a high dose
- using an inhaled corticosteroid medicine for asthma
- wearing dentures (false teeth), especially if they do not fit well
- not keeping the mouth clean enough
- having a dry mouth, whether from a medical condition or a medicine you are taking
- smoking
- having chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer
Babies, young children and elderly people carry a higher risk of developing oral thrush. So do people with certain underlying conditions, including diabetes, low iron or vitamin B12 levels, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and HIV.
Since most people already carry Candida fungi in their mouth, oral thrush does not spread from one person to another.
Treatment
Oral thrush usually clears up well once you start antifungal medicine. Most often this comes as a gel or liquid that you apply straight onto the affected areas inside your mouth (a topical treatment), though tablets or capsules are used in some cases.
If you're using a topical treatment, you'll typically need to apply it several times a day for about 7 to 14 days. Tablets or capsules, on the other hand, are usually taken just once a day.
These medicines rarely cause side effects, but a few people notice nausea, vomiting, bloating, tummy pain, or diarrhoea while taking them.
If antibiotics or corticosteroids seem to be behind your oral thrush, your doctor may need to switch the medicine, change how it's taken, or lower the dose.
Prevention
There are several things you can do to lower your chances of getting oral thrush.
Do
- rinse your mouth after meals
- brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- floss regularly
- visit your dentist regularly for check-ups, even if you wear dentures or have no natural teeth
- take your dentures out every night and clean them with paste or soap and water before soaking them in a solution of water and denture-cleaning tablets
- brush your gums, tongue and the inside of your mouth with a soft brush twice a day if you wear dentures or have few or no natural teeth
- visit your dentist if your dentures do not fit properly
- stop smoking if you smoke
- rinse your mouth with water and spit it out after using a corticosteroid inhaler, and use a spacer (a plastic cylinder that attaches to the inhaler) when you take your medicine
- make sure any underlying condition you have, such as diabetes, is kept well controlled
If you have a condition, or are having treatment, that puts you at high risk of developing oral thrush, your doctor may recommend a course of antifungal medication to prevent it from happening.