Oral thrush is also familiar with its medical term candidiasis. It’s an oral condition wherein a type of fungus Candida alb cans deposits on the lining of the mouth. Although this fungus is normally noticeable in the mouth, it can sometimes overgrow.
We can pinpoint oral thrush by a cream-like white lesion that is noticeable either on the tongue or inner cheeks. You may also sometimes notice them on the roof of your mouth, gums, tonsils, or the back of your throat. In case of any such doubt, make sure to contact your dentist in Glendale, immediately.
Causes of Oral Thrush
Oral Thrush or Candidiasis can occur to anyone; however, it’s more likely to affect babies and the elderly because of weaker immunity. This is also the prime cause of this oral condition. Dentists at My Dentist Burbank say that sometimes our immune system fails to fight off invading organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
This is when the balance between “good” and “bad” microbes in our system gets discontinuous. This causes the number of fungi like candida fungus to increase in the body, thereby resulting in an oral thrush infection.
Symptoms of Candidiasis
If you notice any or all of the below symptoms, it’s time to get in touch with your Glendale dentist at once.
- Creamy-white lesions on the tongue, inner cheeks, mouth roof, gums, and tonsils
- Lesions that are slightly raised and tend to appear in a cottage cheese-like texture
- Redness, burning sensation, or soreness that may cause difficulty in eating or swallowing
- Mild bleeding upon rubbing or scraping of lesions
- Cracks or redness at the corners of the mouth
- Losing a sense of taste in the mouth
- Redness, irritation, and pain under the dentures
Candidiasis may sometimes become severe. This can affect other parts of the body as well, besides just the mouth. This may happen in acute cases of weak immunity because of diseases like cancer or HIV/AIDS. In this case, the lesions may spread downward into the esophagus and we can refer to the condition as Candida esophagitis. It is noticeable by difficulty in swallowing food or severe pain or a feeling of food getting stuck in the throat.
Under any such conditions, it’s best to visit the expert dentist in Glendale without delay. Our dentists have good knowledge of dealing with all kinds of oral and dental conditions. They’d be able to guide you to the next step of treatment.
Who’s at Risk of Oral Thrush?
We know, weakened immunity is the main cause of this condition. Therefore, oral thrush infections are most commonly seen in infants, breastfeeding mothers, and aged people. Besides that, anyone else suffering from any health condition resulting in a weak immune system is also at risk of candidiasis.
This may include diabetics and mothers-to-be with vaginal yeast infections (at risk of passing the same to the baby). Besides, people on antibiotics are also at risk. This is because the latter tend to disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in the body.
How to Prevent Oral Thrush?
Your Glendale dentist at Smile Makeover of LA would inform you of the best possible remedy; however, you can prevent the infection by following a few necessary steps:
- Daily brushing and flossing
- Getting your dentures checked
- Visiting your dentist regularly
- Controlling your diet
- Controlling blood sugar, especially if you’re a diabetic
Oral thrush is common and curable if you visit the dentist timely. Call 818-578-2324 to book an appointment with one of our expert dentists.