What Are the Treatments for a Yeast Infection in the Mouth?

Yeast infections can be particularly painful when they occur in the mouth. These infections, known as thrush, make eating and drinking difficult. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, denture wearers, newborns, smokers, people who use inhaled corticosteroids and people who have weakened immune systems may have a higher risk of developing thrush.

Symptoms

• Thrush produces white spots or lesions in your mouth and on your tongue. Some people may have red spots and soreness inside the mouth instead of the spots. If you brush your teeth and bump against one of these spots, it may break open and bleed. In some cases, thrush lesions spread to your esophagus, the tube that food passes through on the way from the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal lesions can cause difficulty swallowing. Angular cheilitis, a condition in which thrush forms at the corners of your mouth and causes cracking, may also occur.

Causes

• The Candida albicans fungus is a usually harmless fungus commonly found in the digestive tract, skin and mouth. It is normally kept under control by microorganisms and bacteria in the body. Stress or illness can cause the Candida albicans level in your body to become unbalanced, resulting in the growth of the characteristic white spots. Taking antibiotics and birth control pills can change yeast levels in the mouth, as can HIV infections, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, cancer or dry mouth. Pregnant women who have vaginal yeast infections can pass thrush to their babies during delivery. Thrush is usually mild in newborns.

Treatment for Babies and Children

• Children may not need treatment for mild cases of thrush. An anti-fungal medication may be prescribed if thrush is more severe and is causing pain. If you are breastfeeding a baby with thrush, both you and your baby will require treatment or you may continue to pass the infection back and forth to each other. When your baby has a thrush infection, you will most likely develop a corresponding infection on your breasts. An anti-fungal cream can be applied to the breasts to clear up the infection.

Treatment for Adults

• An anti-fungal medication may be prescribed to treat thrush or your doctor may suggest that you try to restore the bacterial flora in your mouth by taking acidophilus liquid or capsules or by eating unsweetened yogurt that contains live cultures of acidophilus. Acidophilus is a bacteria that helps in the digestive process. If you develop thrush and have a weakened immune system, treatment with acidophilus may not be as effective for you and you may need to take an anti-fungal medication. People who have a late stage HIV infection may become resistant to anti-fungals and may need to use another type of drug.

Prevention/Solution

• You can reduce your chances of developing thrush by limiting your usage of mouthwash or mouthwash sprays, as these products may alter the balance of microorganisms in your mouth. Brushing and flushing your teeth daily and visiting your dentist regularly can also reduce the possibility of developing an infection. If thrush is a chronic problem for you, you may want to limit sugar and foods that contain yeast, such as beer, wine or bread.