Oral candidiasis or oral thrush: symptoms, causes and treatment?

1. What is oral candidiasis?

2. are the symptoms of oral thrush?

3. Where does their development come from?

4. How is oral thrush diagnosed?

5. Oral candidiasis in children VS adults, what is the difference?

6. What treatment for oral candidiasis?

Due mainly to the fungus Candida Albicans , candidiasis develops in conditions where the body has a weakened immune system. 🍄 This infection which weakens oral health manifests itself in various symptoms.

Anyone who suffers from oral candidiasis has redness in the gums in the mouth, as well as small lesions. On his tongue there are white “creamy” patches. To overcome this oral mucosal infection caused by candida albicans, better oral hygiene is necessary. Find out everything (symptoms, causes and treatment) about this oral mycosis. 🧐

Also referred to as oral thrush , candidiasis represents an infection of the mouth due to the proliferation of the fungus candida albicans. This living organism is naturally present in the mucous membranes of humans. In controlled quantities, the candida fungus poses no problem. 👌

But, it develops when the body lowers its defenses and causes a set of symptoms. Anyone can be a victim of this mouth fungus. However, some people are particularly vulnerable to oral thrush. These include people such as seniors, infants, young children . 👴

It also develops in people with a weakened immune system because they have HIV . Patients undergoing cancer treatment often develop this oral yeast infection. 💊

Oral thrush is not a contagious infection. These symptoms generally last 7 to 14 days. This mycosis manifests itself as creamy white patches that appear on the tongue suddenly. These plaques quickly spread throughout the mouth when the immune system is truly weakened. 😷

They are found inside the cheek, on the roof of the mouth, we can see white gums ... and cause irritation. Oral candidiasis also manifests itself by small lesions as well as redness which is observed inside the mouth. 👄 Due to these injuries, the victim of oral thrush feels a burning sensation in the mouth , on the tongue in particular.

Among the symptoms of oral thrush is discomfort when swallowing . This is particularly due to the sore throat caused by this mycosis. You therefore have difficulty consuming anything.

Dry mouth is also one of the most common symptoms of oral candidiasis. (also called xerostomia ) therefore having a constantly dry mouth , and ageusia (loss of taste). In rare cases, bleeding from the gums , tongue and walls of the mouth is observed. 🩸

Note that there are different kinds of oral thrush and the symptoms may vary from one group to another. There is the category of pseudomembranous thrush. This is the most common version of this mycosis.

The second type of oral candidiasis is erythematous. Here, the plaques that appear have a red color instead of a whitish tint.

The last category is hyperplastic thrush. It is also called nodular candidiasis . Here the plaques are solid, white and very difficult to remove. This version of oral candidiasis is rarely encountered. It is observed in particular in immunodeficient people. 🧬

The development of candida albicans causing this infection is due to different factors. The main cause of proliferation is the weakening of immune defenses . This is what promotes the imbalance of fungi and gives rise to oral thrush.

Taking treatments like antibiotics , steroids, and inhalers to treat asthma encourage the overgrowth of fungi. These treatments cause changes and create an imbalance in the bacterial flora which ensures the protection of the oral tissue. 🦠 This state of affairs helps candida albicans in its growth.

Poor blood sugar regulation in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus is also a source of mouth infections. The high concentration of glucose in the blood is also noticeable in saliva. 🍭 This provides the bacteria in the mouth responsible for fungi with an ideal environment for their proliferation.

The candida fungus that causes oral thrush also grows when you wear dentures all the time . Poor maintenance of these can be a source of oral mycosis.

Poor oral hygiene also contributes to the development of candida albicans. This is also the case when you suffer from dry mouth or when you have previously suffered from other types of mouth infections. 🤭

The diagnosis of mycosis caused by candida albicans is made by a doctor, particularly the dentist. This examines the inside of your mouth looking for characteristic signs of this infection (plaques, redness, spots on the gum , etc.).

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may perform a biopsy of the affected area. First, using the appropriate tool, he scrapes a small part of the plaque that has appeared in your mouth. He then sends this sample to the laboratory for analysis. 🩺

It is possible that yeast infection caused by candida albicans is a symptom of an underlying condition. If your dentist suspects this, he or she will refer you to another doctor for more in-depth examinations.

In children as in adults, infection caused by candida albicans has the same symptoms. The major difference is in the frequency of transmission of mycosis . ⏱

Indeed, in children, infants in particular, dental health is fragile because the immune system is still poorly developed. 👶 Thus, fungi like candida albicans that are not yet under control develop and cause oral thrush in children.

Oral candidiasis in children is common from the first weeks of life. On the other hand, in adults, very specific conditions are required for this infection to develop. These are conditions like:

This infection does not necessarily require medical treatment. However, you will have to adopt healthy habits to see it disappear.

Insufficient oral hygiene is one of the causes of this infection. To cure it, it is therefore necessary to adopt good practices. To overcome this condition, you need to brush your teeth properly morning and evening. 🪥

Use the appropriate equipment for this. Most dentists will advise you to focus on the benefits of electric toothbrushes . We can also cite as an example the sonic electric toothbrushes from our French brand MyVariations .
Their sonic technology is particularly gentle on the gums and dental enamel , and allows particularly effective brushing to remove dental plaque and prevent the accumulation of tartar or bacteria. 🦷

Discover our toothbrushes

It is therefore important to choose your electric brush carefully . Also use dental floss or interdental brushes to clean between your teeth. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid smoking as it increases the risk of getting an oral infection. 🚬

Learn about the correct way to use interdental brushes beforehand.

A well-chosen mouthwash allows you to keep your mouth healthy and eliminate the batteries that are lying around . It is a good ally in the fight against oral thrush. It is recommended to use it daily. Above all, opt for a product that does not contain alcohol because it disrupts the pH of your mouth, something you do not want if you already have candidiasis. 🙏

Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush regularly . After a period of three months of use, you must change your teeth cleaning equipment.

If the bristles of the brush become frayed well before the recommended usage time, you need to change it. A toothbrush with bristles in poor condition loses its effectiveness and risks causing damage to the gums and enamel. Several studies have also proven that this type of equipment when new is capable of removing plaques better than worn equipment. 😉

MyVariations also offers a subscription option, allowing those who wish to receive a new brush head directly to their home, at the frequency of their choice, so that they no longer need to think about it. You just have to wait for it to arrive on its own to change it 🙌

In addition to their excellent effectiveness, they have a battery life of one month with two two-minute brushings per day. They clean your teeth in depth and allow you to benefit from 5 brushing modes of different intensities to adapt to your sensitivity. 😁

Additionally, MyVariations brush heads feature soft bristles made from nylon . This is the guarantee of effective and gentle cleaning.

If following all these measures, you do not observe improvements, consult a doctor . He will be able to advise you on a pharmaceutical treatment or any other ideal arrangement. 👩‍⚕️