With treatment, oral thrush should clear up in about two weeks. Without treatment, it may last up to eight weeks or longer. Monitor your symptoms and visit a doctor immediately if you believe it has spread to your esophagus, as this can cause more serious infection.
If left untreated, the symptoms will often persist and your mouth will continue to feel uncomfortable. In severe cases that are left untreated, there is also a risk of the infection spreading further into your body, which can be serious.
In many cases, thrush goes away on its own without treatment. A persistent yeast infection may require antifungal medications. These can be taken orally or applied as ointments directly to your mouth. Antifungal rinses are another option for treating thrush.
Thrush is easily treated with an antifungal medicine such as nystatin (Mycostatin®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), or itraconazole (Sporanox®). Your child may get these medicines as a syrup or a pill. Thrush usually clears up in 4 to 5 days.
The yeast can form a white film or blotchy patches on top of the tongue. Your dentist can prescribe an antifungal medication to kill the yeast, and brushing the tongue daily will help prevent its return.
Are there any natural remedies for oral thrush? Similarly to other oral infections, gargling salt water can help to relieve your symptoms and ease your throat. Also many people use prebiotic yoghurt to treat oral thrush, but make sure that you use unsweetened yoghurt as the yeast eats sugar and this causes it to grow.
Lean chicken, fish and meats. Non-starchy vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, bean sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, mushrooms, salad greens, tomato and zucchini. Healthy fats like avocado, eggs, nuts and extra virgin olive oil. Fermented foods such as yoghurt and sauerkraut.
In very bad cases, thrush can spread into your esophagus and cause: Pain when you swallow or difficulty swallowing. A feeling that food is stuck in your throat or in the middle of your chest. Fever, if the infection spreads beyond the esophagus.
Thrush usually develops suddenly. A common sign is the presence of creamy white, slightly raised lesions in your mouth — usually on your tongue or inner cheeks. You may also have lesions on the roof of your mouth, gums, tonsils or back of your throat.
Thrush is an infection caused by a fungus called Candida. Some things can make the fungus grow more than usual. You might get thrush if you're: taking antibiotics over a long time.
For oral thrush treatment, the most popular brand is Paroex Oral Rinse. This type of antiseptic has powerful antibacterial properties that can help maintain a healthy mouth and control and kill bacteria in your mouth.
Left untreated, oral thrush can last for months or even years. If your immune system is very weak, the fungi may penetrate deeper layers of tissue in rare cases, reaching the circulatory system and causing life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis).
Untreated oral thrush can lead to more-serious systemic candida infections. If you have a weakened immune system, thrush may spread to your esophagus or other parts of your body.
Symptoms of candidiasis in the esophagus usually include pain when swallowing and difficulty swallowing. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that you think are related to candidiasis in the mouth, throat, or esophagus.
Candida overgrowth can cause several health problems, including digestive issues, fatigue, and joint pain. Addressing the underlying cause can help ease symptoms caused by candidiasis and prevent recurring infections.
The candida diet requires people to avoid foods and drinks that could increase the risk of Candida overgrowth. These include gluten, sugar, alcohol products, and certain types of dairy.
In particular, foods high in sugar, refined grains, dairy products, processed meats, and alcohol may promote the growth of Candida ( 28 ). While more research is needed, one study found that people who avoided these foods during treatment for Candida had better outcomes after 3 months ( 28 ).
The powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties of Listerine are clear — as a mouthwash. Clinical studies are needed to support Listerine as an alternative treatment for foot fungus.
Yogurt. Because yogurt contains probiotics—”healthy” bacteria that can prevent fungi overgrowth—it may be a helpful at-home remedy for oral thrush. In one small study, elderly adults consumed probiotic yogurt or regular cheese. Those who ate the yogurt had a 32 percent reduction in oral thrush incidence.
In most cases oral thrush can be treated with an antifungal mouthwash prepared by a compounding pharmacy. There are many formulations we compound for the treatment of fungal infection along with oral inflammation and pain.
A fungal infection like thrush can also be stored on a toothbrush. If you experience this problem, change your toothbrush frequently while being treated and then break open a new one when your treatment is done.
Replace your toothbrush more frequently than the standard recommendation of every three months. Once the thrush infection clears, you can use your toothbrush for as long as three months or until it appears worn.
Clotrimazole lozenges are dissolved slowly in the mouth to prevent and treat thrush. Thrush, also called candidiasis or white mouth, is a fungus infection of the mouth and throat. This medicine may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor.