|  | Conditions Treatments | Medical Conditions

Symptoms of Oral Candida

Oral candida, or thrush, is a fungal infection that infects the mouth and throat. The patient's doctor or dentist can easily diagnose candida. It is important that the patient receive a diagnosis in order to treat it and get rid of it, because if the conditions are right, candida can spread throughout the patient's body.

  1. Candida Defined

    • Oral candida is an infection of the mouth caused by the candida fungus; this fungus is also called yeast. Candida does not only show up in the mouth--babies can develop severe diaper rash from yeast infections; women can develop vaginal yeast infections.

    Initial Symptoms

    • The first symptoms the patient notices will be the appearance of creamy, white lesions in his mouth; they are slightly raised and appear on the tongue and insides of the cheeks. They can also appear on the roof of his mouth, the tonsils or at the back of his throat. These lesions can cause pain and bleed when they are gently scraped. One unique characteristic of candida or thrush is that it looks like cottage cheese.

    Esophageal Symptoms

    • The person who has developed a more severe case of oral candida can experience the spread of lesions into his esophagus; he will notice he has a hard time swallowing, or it becomes painful for him to swallow. He may also have the physical feeling of a piece of food being stuck in his throat or further down in his mid-chest area. If his infection spreads beyond his esophagus, he will become feverish.

    Spread of Candida

    • Oral candida does not confine itself to the mouth, throat or esophagus. If the person has a compromised immune system (such as from HIV/AIDS or cancer), this fungal infection can easily spread to the lungs, skin or liver. If a patient's doctor believes the fungus has spread to his esophagus or farther, he will perform an endoscopy to examine the interior of the esophagus.

    Preventing Candida

    • If the patient has developed an oral candida infection in the past, he will want to make sure he practices good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing her teeth daily. He needs to visit his dentist regularly, especially if he wears dentures or suffers from diabetes. He should quit smoking if he smokes, and limit his intake of sugar-laden foods and beverages, wine, bread and beer--all can encourage the growth of candida. He should also avoid the use of mouthwashes and breath sprays, as these preparations alter the natural balance of "good" microorganisms in his mouth.

Medical Conditions - Related Articles