Oral thrush is a form of yeast infection common in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. However, thrush can also develop in healthy people if the environment is right. Just like it’s fairly common for someone to get a yeast infection on their skin, oral thrush can develop when certain situations align with one another.
Thrush develops when the natural oral flora (“good” bacteria) inside our mouths get out of balance. Our mouths are naturally full of different types of bacterial colonies, which is why we brush our teeth each day to keep our teeth and gums healthy. When we have an overgrowth of specific bacterial strains and less of the others, it predisposes us to yeast infections in the mouth, which are usually referred to as “thrush.”
Oral Thrush Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of oral thrush is a white, cheesy buildup on the mucosa (pink skin) inside of your mouth. It may occur across the palate (roof of the mouth), inside of the cheeks, or even across the surface of the tongue and lips. Unlike dental plaque, which tends to be heaviest on teeth just next to the gum lines, this lumpy-like texture of bacterial colonies attaches itself to softer skin.
Aside from the white residue, the second-most common symptom of oral thrush is an inflamed, burning area. The infected skin tends to be bright red and almost looks and feels completely raw. Since the thrush residue can be wiped off with a washcloth or toothbrush, it’s easy to see this surface infection inside of your mouth.
Some people with oral thrush also complain of lingering bad breath. With our oral flora out of balance, odorous bacteria may be more prominent. Actively infected tissues also add to the equation.
Denture stomatitis is a symptom that is closely related to oral thrush. It affects both partial and full denture wearers. The symptoms include red, burning tissues on the roof of your mouth or the gums underneath your denture. This can make your mouth too painful to clean and even interfere with your ability to wear your denture.
What Does Oral Thrush Look Like?
Thrush will usually cause a red, raw surface in your mouth, along with a cottage cheese-like residue. This thick white coating is typically loose enough to wipe off but leaves raw, red tissue behind.
Unlike other types of ulcers, canker sores, or oral blisters, thrush can be spread across wide areas and doesn’t have a defined border around it. There may be a small patchy area or a large infection that spans multiple surfaces throughout your mouth. Typically, when someone gets an aphthous ulcer or blister, symptoms resolve within a week or two. But if you see visible signs of infection without improvement, you need to seek out the care of a healthcare provider.
Oral Thrush Causes
If you’re someone who is generally prone to developing yeast infections, you may be more susceptible to oral thrush as well. Populations who are most “at-risk” for this condition tend to be those who are immunocompromised in some way, including elderly individuals and young babies. However, taking antibiotics—which almost all of us do at one point or another—can also impact the healthy flora inside our mouths and make us prone to a yeast infection and/or oral thrush.
When antibiotics are the cause of oral thrush, symptoms typically begin to improve after the medication regimen is complete and healthy flora replenish themselves. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case for people with weak immune systems. Any time our bodies can’t regulate natural bacterial colonies, it allows certain ones to increase, creating an imbalance and associated infection. For example, someone undergoing cancer treatment or who has an autoimmune disease may experience recurring oral thrush.
Poor oral hygiene may also be to blame, especially when removable prosthetics or appliances are involved. The cause of denture stomatitis, which is similar to the yeast infection mentioned above, is the result of bacterial buildup under your prosthesis. It’s usually caused by wearing the denture too long, not removing it nightly, or not cleaning it properly. Dentures should never be worn overnight as they will harbour infection and lead to unwanted tissue discomfort.
Is Oral Thrush Contagious?
Not necessarily—all of us typically have the bacteria responsible for oral thrush already in our bodies. What makes some of us develop yeast infections is an environment where there is an overgrowth of certain bacteria. Or the fact that our immune system cannot keep up with regulating them like normal. You won’t typically see thrush spread from one person to another. That being said, it’s advised that you try to limit the opportunity for bacterial transfer, such as sharing food, drinks, or kissing, until the infection is under control.
Oral Thrush Treatment
Our dentist might need to prescribe a steroid or antifungal cream for you to use at home every day. Always take your medication as directed, as it will help target the bacterial overgrowth to reduce tissue irritation and discomfort.
Since thrush is caused by an imbalance in our oral flora, it’s a good idea to try to replenish the “good” bacteria through your diet. Eating yogurt or taking probiotics are two easy ways to do so. Oral probiotics specifically target oral flora colonies, so they usually dissolve in the mouth. But foods rich in natural probiotics are just as helpful. These products help balance out your oral environment by assisting the growth of good bacteria that might have been destroyed by antibiotics or too many bad ones from an immunodeficiency.
Avoid harsh products like alcohol-based mouth rinse, as it can cause unnecessary burning and delay the healing process.
You can also work on revamping your daily oral hygiene routine. To ensure that you don’t re-infect your mouth with the same bacteria each day, sterilise or toss your toothbrush head and always clean any removable appliances such as retainers or dentures every single day. Never sleep in your denture; remove it each night and clean it with an approved denture cleaner or non-abrasive toothpaste and brush. Allow your prosthesis to soak overnight, brush it again the next morning, and rinse it clean again before wearing it.
How Long Does Oral Thrush Last Without Treatment?
An oral thrush infection can last for days, months, or even longer if it’s neglected. If you are a caregiver for an older family member or infant, be sure to have them looked after by their dentist on a semi-regular basis. Even denture wearers still need routine dental checkups, as their oral health will impact everyday activities like eating and speaking. A persistent oral thrush infection can ultimately compromise their quality of life.
The good news is that treating oral thrush is usually a straightforward process. With prescription creams, oral hygiene improvement, and the implementation of probiotics, these yeast infections can usually be managed within a week or two.
If you’re exhibiting symptoms of an oral thrush/yeast infection, contact Hawthorn Road Dental to reserve an appointment at your earliest convenience.
