Treatment for Oral Thrush in Adults

Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth. Symptoms of Candida overgrowth can occasionally occur in your mouth, but it is a normal organism. Oral thrush causes creamy white lesions, usually on your tongue or inner cheeks. Occasionally, oral thrush can spread to your gums, tonsils, or back of your throat. People with a weakened immune system may experience more severe symptoms and may be hard to control.

Symptoms of Oral Thrush in Adults

• White or yellow patches of bumps on your inner cheeks, tongue, tonsils, gums, or lips
• Slight bleeding if the bumps are scraped
• Bad taste in your mouth
• Loss of sense of taste
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Soreness or burning sensation in your mouth
• Cotton-like sensation in your mouth
• Cracked and dry skin in the corners of your mouth or lips

Is Oral Thrush Contagious?

Someone with oral thrush can pass the fungus that causes this condition through kissing. In some cases, that person might develop oral thrush. Yeast infections in other body parts can also be caused by the same fungus that causes oral thrush. The fungus can be passed from one part of your body to another. Younger adults can develop oral thrush, especially if they have an impaired immune system.

Home Treatment for Oral Thrush

• To prevent scraping the bumps caused by thrush, brush with a soft toothbrush.
• If you wear dentures, properly clean them after you finish your oral thrush treatment to lower your risk of reinfection.
• Avoid mouthwashes or mouth sprays, unless your doctor has prescribed them.
• The use of salt water or a solution of water and baking soda may also help relieve symptoms of thrush in adults
• You can also gargle a mixture of water and lemon juice or water with apple cider vinegar.

Tips to Prevent Oral Thrush in Adults

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat nutritious foods to support your immune system.
• Brush your teeth twice a day, floss every day, and visit your dentist regularly to maintain good oral hygiene.
• Make sure your dentures fit properly and remove them before going to bed.
• After using a corticosteroid inhaler, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth.
• Maintain a healthy blood sugar level if you have diabetes.

Clotrimazole as Treatment Medication for Oral Thrush in Adults

Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug used to treat varieties of fungal skin infections including oral thrush. It also relieves symptoms such as cracking of the skin, burning, itching, and discomfort caused by these infections. Clotrimazole works by limiting the production of ergosterol which is an important component of the fungal cell membrane. The disruption leads to the development of holes in the membrane and leakage of cell components and results in the death of the fungi.