Posted on 2/6/2023 by Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry
Oral thrush is a yeast infection in which the fungus candida accumulates and multiplies in your mouth. If you notice white or yellow lesions or patches on your tongue or inner cheeks, it is probably thrush. Perhaps the patches are even on your throat. Don't worry, remember that thrush is a common infection which requires treatment. Normally, you can self-diagnose this infection. Lab tests are rarely required. In fact, more than 200,000 cases per year are present in the United States.
Who is Most Susceptible to Oral Thrush?
It is common in babies but also in the elderly. People with compromised immune systems are often unable to fight yeast infections in their body. For this reason, people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to oral thrush. Cancer patients, those with HIV, and leukemia patients are those at highest risk for a thrush infection. However, if the immune system can become fortified, it can often fight off yeast infections as well as other infections in your body.
If you take medications that reduce the number of friendly microbes in your body, you may contract oral thrush more often. Medications such as antibiotics disrupt your microbiome in your gut. In this scenario, fungus can grow out of control and result in thrush.
Lastly, those who use steroid sprays for asthma, and those who are diabetic are also susceptible to thrush. Oral thrush is an opportunistic infection, and it seems that many groups of people are at risk.
Get to Our Office for Help
We are here to help you combat thrush. With early treatment and the right medication, you can overcome most types of thrush. Give our office a call today if you suspect you are battling thrush in your mouth. Once you begin treatment, oral thrush usually goes away within a couple of weeks, but it can return. We are here to help you!
Blog - Wichita, KS • Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry At Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Healy created this informative blog to assist with educating the community about various topics of pediatric dentistry. Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, 3933 N. Maize Road, Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67101 \ (316) 202-9629 \ tinyteethwichita.com \ 10/6/2024 \ Key Phrases: Pediatric Dentist Wichita KS \
Oral thrush is a yeast infection in which the fungus candida accumulates and multiplies in your mouth. If you notice white or yellow lesions or patches on your tongue or inner cheeks, it is probably thrush. Perhaps the patches are even on your throat. Don't worry, remember that thrush is a common infection which requires treatment. Normally, you can self-diagnose this infection. Lab tests are rarely required. In fact, more than 200,000 cases per year are present in the United States.