Mouth Yeast Infection

Oral thrush is a type of yeast infection that is found in the lining of the mouth and the tongue. The condition is caused by the fungus Candida albicans and generally affects people with weak immune systems.

Risk Factors

• People who have HIV or AIDS, take corticosteroids or antibiotics, are undergoing chemotherapy, have diabetes and/or smoke cigarettes are at an increased risk for getting an oral yeast infection. Oral thrush is also common among infants, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.

Symptoms

• Oral thrush causes people to develop white lesions in their mouth, tongue, cheeks and/or gums. People with this condition may also have a dry mouth, a fever, an inability to taste foods and/or difficulties swallowing. According to MedicineNet, some people with oral thrush develop a skin, liver and/or lung infection.

Diagnosis

• Doctors are often able to find signs of oral thrush during a medical examination. Sometimes they take tissue samples from patients' mouth, which are cultured in a laboratory and examined for the presence of fungi.

Treatment

• Oral thrush in infants often goes away without treatment. Sometimes nursing babies and their mothers are given antifungal medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. Adults and older children are often given antifungal medications in tablet, lozenge or liquid form for up to two weeks.

Prevention

• People can prevent oral thrush in infants by regularly cleaning nipples and pacifiers. Older children and adults can prevent oral thrush by brushing and flossing their teeth regularly and/or reducing the amount of foods they eat that are high in sugar or yeast products.