Oral thrush in adults

Preventing oral thrush

There are a number of things you can do to reduce your chances of developing oral thrush, including:

rinsing your mouth after meals
brushing your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride, and interdental cleaning (flossing) regularly
visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups, even if youwear dentures or have no natural teeth
removing your dentures every night, cleaning themwith paste or soap and water before soaking themin a solution of water and denture-cleaning tablets
brushing your gums, tongueand inside your mouth with a soft brushtwice aday if you wear dentures or have no or few natural teeth
visiting your dentist if your denturesdo not fit properly
stopping smoking if you smoke
rinsing your mouth with water and spitting it out after using a corticosteroid inhaler, andusing a spacer (a plastic cylinder that attaches tothe inhaler) when you take your medicine
ensuring that any underlying condition you have, such as diabetes, is well controlled

If you have a condition or are receiving treatment that could put you at a high risk of developing oral thrush, your doctormay recommend taking a course of antifungal medication to prevent this happening.

and looking after dentures .

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for oral thrush in adults

Introduction

Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth. It is not contagious and is usually successfully treated with antifungal medication.

Symptoms of oral thrush

Symptoms of oral thrushcaninclude: white patches (plaques) in the mouth that can often be wiped off, leaving behind redareas that may bleed slightly loss of taste or an unpleasant taste in the mo

When to see your GP

Speak to your GP if you develop symptoms of oral thrush. If left untreated, the symptoms will often persist and your mouth will continue to feel uncomfortable. In severe cases that are left untreated

Causes of oral thrush

Low numbers of the fungus Candida are naturally found in the mouth and digestive system of most people. They don't usually cause any problems, but can lead to oral thrush if they multiply. There are

Treatments for oral thrush

Oral thrush can usually be successfully treated with antifungal medicines . These usually come in the form of gels or liquid that you apply directly inside your mouth (topical medication), although ta

Preventing oral thrush

There are a number of things you can do to reduce your chances of developing oral thrush, including: rinsing your mouth after meals brushing your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains f

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