What are the common symptoms of oral thrush. How is oral thrush diagnosed and treated. Who is most at risk for developing oral candidiasis. What preventive measures can help avoid yeast overgrowth in the mouth.

Understanding Oral Thrush: An Overview of Candida Infections

Oral thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a yeast infection that affects the mouth and throat. It’s caused by an overgrowth of the Candida albicans fungus, which is normally present in small amounts in the oral cavity. When the balance of microorganisms in the mouth is disrupted, Candida can multiply excessively, leading to infection.

Oral thrush can affect people of all ages, but it’s most common in infants, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The infection presents as white, cottage cheese-like patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, or throat. In some cases, it may cause redness and soreness in the affected areas.

Identifying the Symptoms: Key Signs of Oral Thrush

Recognizing the symptoms of oral thrush is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. Common signs include:

• White, creamy lesions on the tongue, inner cheeks, or throat
• Redness or soreness in the affected areas
• Difficulty swallowing or a burning sensation in the mouth
• Loss of taste or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Cracking and redness at the corners of the mouth

In some cases, oral thrush may be asymptomatic, especially in its early stages. Regular dental check-ups can help detect the infection before it becomes more severe.

Is oral thrush painful?

Oral thrush can cause discomfort and pain, particularly when eating or swallowing. The severity of pain varies depending on the extent of the infection and individual sensitivity. Some people may experience a burning sensation or soreness in the affected areas, while others might only feel mild irritation.

Risk Factors: Who Is Most Susceptible to Oral Thrush?

Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing oral thrush. These include:

• Weakened immune system due to conditions like HIV/AIDS or cancer treatments
• Use of corticosteroids or antibiotics
• Diabetes
• Dry mouth (xerostomia)
• Smoking
• Poor oral hygiene
• Denture use, especially if not properly cleaned
• Infancy or old age

Understanding these risk factors can help individuals take preventive measures and seek early treatment if symptoms arise.

Can oral thrush spread to other parts of the body?

While oral thrush primarily affects the mouth and throat, in some cases, it can spread to other parts of the body. This is more likely to occur in individuals with weakened immune systems. Candida infections can potentially affect the esophagus, skin, and genitals. In severe cases, the infection may enter the bloodstream, leading to a condition called invasive candidiasis, which requires immediate medical attention.

Diagnosing Oral Thrush: Methods and Procedures

Diagnosing oral thrush typically involves a combination of visual examination and laboratory tests. Healthcare providers may use the following methods:

1. Visual inspection: A dentist or doctor can often diagnose oral thrush by examining the mouth for characteristic white lesions.
2. Oral swab: A sample from the affected area can be taken and examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of Candida.
3. Culture test: In some cases, a culture of the oral lesions may be grown to identify the specific type of fungus causing the infection.
4. Endoscopy: For suspected cases of esophageal thrush, an endoscopy may be performed to examine the esophagus.

Early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and preventing complications.

How long does it take to diagnose oral thrush?

The time required to diagnose oral thrush can vary depending on the diagnostic method used. A visual examination can provide an immediate preliminary diagnosis. However, if laboratory tests are necessary, it may take a few days to receive the results. In most cases, a definitive diagnosis can be made within a week.

Treatment Options: Combating Oral Thrush Effectively

Treatment for oral thrush aims to eliminate the overgrowth of Candida and restore balance to the oral microbiome. Common treatment options include:

• Antifungal medications: These can be in the form of lozenges, tablets, or liquid solutions.
• Oral rinses: Antifungal mouth rinses may be prescribed for more widespread infections.
• Topical treatments: Antifungal gels or creams can be applied directly to the affected areas.
• Systemic antifungals: In severe cases or for immunocompromised patients, oral or intravenous antifungal medications may be necessary.

The duration of treatment typically ranges from 7 to 14 days, depending on the severity of the infection and the individual’s response to treatment.

Are there any natural remedies for oral thrush?

While medical treatment is often necessary, some natural remedies may help alleviate symptoms and support recovery:

• Saltwater rinses: Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe irritation and promote healing.
• Probiotics: Consuming probiotic-rich foods or supplements may help restore balance to the oral microbiome.
• Coconut oil: Some studies suggest that coconut oil has antifungal properties and may help combat Candida overgrowth.
• Tea tree oil: When diluted properly, tea tree oil mouthwash may have antifungal effects.

It’s important to note that these natural remedies should not replace prescribed medical treatments. Always consult with a healthcare provider before trying alternative therapies.

Prevention Strategies: Minimizing the Risk of Oral Thrush

Preventing oral thrush involves maintaining good oral hygiene and addressing risk factors. Here are some effective prevention strategies:

• Practice good oral hygiene: Brush teeth twice daily and floss regularly.
• Rinse your mouth after using inhalers: This is particularly important for individuals using corticosteroid inhalers.
• Clean and disinfect dentures daily: Proper denture care can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
• Limit sugar intake: Candida thrives on sugar, so reducing sugar consumption can help prevent overgrowth.
• Quit smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of oral thrush and interfere with treatment.
• Manage underlying health conditions: Keeping conditions like diabetes under control can help prevent opportunistic infections.

By incorporating these preventive measures into daily routines, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing oral thrush.

How often should dentures be cleaned to prevent oral thrush?

To prevent oral thrush, dentures should be cleaned thoroughly at least once daily. Ideally, they should be removed and cleaned after each meal. Soaking dentures overnight in a denture-cleaning solution can help eliminate bacteria and fungi. It’s also important to remove dentures for several hours each day to allow the oral tissues to breathe and recover.

Complications of Oral Thrush: Understanding Potential Risks

While oral thrush is generally treatable, it can lead to complications if left untreated or in certain high-risk populations. Potential complications include:

• Spread of infection to other parts of the body
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Nutritional deficiencies due to eating difficulties
• Systemic candidiasis in severely immunocompromised individuals
• Recurring infections, especially in those with underlying health conditions

Recognizing and addressing oral thrush promptly can help prevent these complications and ensure better overall health outcomes.

Can oral thrush affect a person’s ability to taste food?

Yes, oral thrush can affect a person’s sense of taste. The overgrowth of Candida and the resulting inflammation can alter taste perception, often leading to a bitter or unpleasant taste in the mouth. Some individuals may experience a temporary loss of taste or a metallic taste sensation. These taste alterations typically resolve once the infection is successfully treated.

Oral Thrush in Special Populations: Infants and Immunocompromised Individuals

Oral thrush can affect people of all ages, but it’s particularly common in certain populations:

Oral Thrush in Infants

Infants are especially susceptible to oral thrush due to their developing immune systems. Symptoms in babies may include:

• White patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, or gums
• Reluctance to feed or fussiness during feeding
• Redness or soreness in the affected areas

Treatment for infants typically involves antifungal drops or gel applied directly to the affected areas. It’s important to sterilize bottle nipples and pacifiers regularly to prevent reinfection.

Oral Thrush in Immunocompromised Individuals

People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, are at higher risk for oral thrush. In these cases, the infection may be more severe and harder to treat. Treatment often involves stronger antifungal medications and may require longer treatment durations.

How does oral thrush in adults differ from that in infants?

While the underlying cause of oral thrush is the same in adults and infants (overgrowth of Candida), there are some differences in presentation and treatment:

• Symptoms: Adults may experience more pain and discomfort compared to infants.
• Risk factors: Adults often develop thrush due to factors like antibiotic use or immune suppression, while infants are susceptible due to their developing immune systems.
• Treatment: Adults may require more aggressive treatment, including oral antifungal medications, while infants are often treated with topical antifungal preparations.
• Prevention: Adults can take active steps to prevent thrush, such as maintaining good oral hygiene, while prevention in infants often focuses on sterilizing feeding equipment and maintaining good breast hygiene for nursing mothers.

Understanding these differences is crucial for appropriate diagnosis and treatment across different age groups.

Oral Yeast Infections

Symptoms, Causes, Treatments In Infants & Adults

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Causes Thrush?
• Oral Thrush Symptoms
• Oral Thrush Diagnosis
• Oral Thrush Treatments and Home Remedies
• Oral Thrush Prevention
• Oral Thrush Outlook
• More

If you notice a strange white rash inside your mouth, you may have a condition called thrush. It’s also called oral candidiasis. It’s an infection caused by the candida fungus, which is yeast. You can get it in your mouth and other parts of the body. It can cause diaper rash in infants or vaginal yeast infections in women.

Anyone can get thrush, but it happens most often to babies and toddlers, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Small amounts of the candida fungus are in your mouth, digestive tract, and skin. It’s supposed to be there, and it’s usually kept under control by the other bacteria in your body. But sometimes, certain illnesses or medications — like corticosteroids or antibiotics — can disturb the balance. This can cause the fungus to grow out of control. That’s when you get thrush.

Stress can cause it. So can a number of medical conditions, like:

If you smoke or wear dentures that don’t fit right might, you’re also more likely to get thrush. And babies can pass the infection to their mothers while breastfeeding.

If you have thrush, you may notice these signs in your mouth:

• White, slightly raised areas, often on the tongue, inner cheeks, roof of mouth, gums, tonsils, or back of throat

• Raised spots that look like cottage cheese

• Cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth (angular cheilitis)

• A cottony feeling

• Loss of taste

Sometimes thrush may also cause:

• Redness, irritation, and pain under dentures (denture stomatitis)

• A large red, painless mark in the center of the tongue (median rhomboid glossitis)

• A band of gum irritation or inflammation (linear gingival erythema)

 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

When breastfeeding infants have thrush, they can pass it to their mother’s breast and cause:

• Red, sensitive, cracked, or itchy nipples

• Shiny or flaky skin on the areola, the area around the nipple

• Painful nursing or painful nipples between feedings

• Stabbing pains deeper in the breast

The fungus that causes thrush can spread to other parts of the body, like the lungs, liver, and skin. This happens more often in people with cancer, HIV, or other conditions that weaken the immune system.

Thrush may be grouped into three types:

• Pseudomembranous — the mouth surfaces look white and creamy

• Erythematous — the mouth looks red and raw

• Hyperplastic — you’ll have white plaque-like lesions or speckled red spots

Your dentist or doctor can probably tell by taking a look inside your mouth. Your doctor might also send a tiny sample of the spot to a lab just to make sure.

If the fungus that causes thrush spreads into your esophagus, you may have to have other tests, like:

• A throat culture (a swab of the back of your throat)

• An endoscopy of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine

• X-rays of your esophagus

Thrush is easy to treat in healthy children and adults. But the symptoms may be worse and harder to treat in people with weak immune systems.

Your doctor will probably prescribe antifungal medications that you’ll have to take for 10-14 days. These come in tablets, lozenges, or liquids, and are generally easy to take.

Since the infection can be a symptom of other medical problems, your doctor may also want to run other tests to rule these out.

In addition to medical treatment, there are some things you can try at home that may help ease thrush or its symptoms:

• Keep your mouth clean with regular brushing and flossing.

• Rinse with about ½ teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.

• Try rinsing with water mixed with apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, or baking soda.

• Probiotics, such as yogurt or over-the-counter pills may help.

• If you are breastfeeding, use nursing pads and keep bras and any bottles or breast pump parts clean.

• If you wear dentures, be sure to disinfect them as recommended by your dentist.

Practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.

Get regular dental checkups. Especially if you have diabetes or wear dentures. Even if you’re healthy and don’t have dental issues, you should get your teeth cleaned by your dentist every 6 months.

Treat chronic health issues. A condition such as HIV or diabetes can disturb the balance of bacteria in your body and lead to thrush. If you’re taking medications for an ongoing health condition, take them regularly, as directed.

Don’t overuse mouthwashes or sprays. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash once or twice a day to help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Using any more than that may upset the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth.

Clean inhalers after using them. If you have a condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), clean your inhalers after each use to kill germs.

Limit foods that contain sugar and yeast. Bread, beer, and wine will cause extra yeast growth.

If you smoke, quit. Ask your doctor or dentist about ways to help you kick the habit.

With treatment, oral thrush usually goes away after a couple of weeks. If you are prone to it or don’t get better, you may need to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Sometimes thrush goes away and comes back. This often happens because the underlying cause hasn’t gone away. 

In some people, thrush can turn into a more serious systemic infection. This happens most often in people with another health condition such as:

In this case, doctors will treat the infection with oral or IV antifungal medicines.

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White dots on the lips: what are they, reasons, how to get rid of

. Is it a cosmetic defect or a serious problem

Updated February 21, 2023 12:21 PM

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White dots or patches on the lips are common and can vary in size and shape. Some of them go away on their own, others can cause discomfort and require treatment.

We understand together with experts the causes of this defect and how to eliminate it.

Contents

1. Why appear
2. How to remove
3. Expert comment

Where do the white dots on the lips come from

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In most cases, whiteheads are natural and harmless, but some of them may be permanent, painful and irritated. One way or another, it is important to determine the cause in order to know if treatment is necessary and if there is a health risk. There are six variants of white dots and spots on the lips.

1. Milia

Milia or milia are small white bumps under the skin [1]. In medical terminology, this is a retention miliary cyst filled with a protein – keratin. The tubercles are usually very small, less than 3 mm wide, domed and smooth. Milia often go away on their own and do not require additional treatment. But if there are too many of them and it bothers you, seek help from a beautician.

2. Fordyce spots

Fordyce spots are slightly enlarged sebaceous glands on the lips [2]. They are small, slightly raised, 1 to 3 mm in size and often appear in groups. The color can vary from white to yellowish, and the contents are easier to see if the skin is slightly stretched.

Fordyce spots are usually harmless and asymptomatic. They do not require treatment unless it is a cosmetic problem.

3. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)

HSV provokes the appearance of white dots on the lips, which eventually turn into herpes [3]. These ulcers appear in three stages:

• initial discomfort, burning and tingling;
• one or more dots and white spots develop along the edges of the lips;
• soon they swell, blisters and crusts form.

After the first outbreak of herpes, HSV often recurs in the same place. Be especially careful if you’ve been exposed to triggers: stress, viral infections, hormonal changes.

4. Oral thrush (candidiasis)

Candidiasis is a fungal infection that develops due to overgrowth of yeast [4]. This condition most commonly results in white bumps and patches in the mouth or tongue, but it can sometimes appear on the lips as well.

With thrush, symptoms such as:

• redness and sensation in the mouth;
• pain on swallowing;
• decreased sensitivity of taste buds.

For treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will select the appropriate drugs.

5. Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease that results in the loss of pigment in the skin, leaving smooth white patches or dots [5]. The disease can begin at any age, but most often it manifests itself between the ages of 10 and 30 years.

Pimples and blemishes occur when the immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. While it can occur anywhere on the body, vitiligo most commonly occurs on the face, including the lips. There is no cure for this condition, but you can try treatments to restore pigment.

Zareta Marshaniv Dermatovenereologist, trichologist, dermato-oncologist, cosmetologist at Maria Shirshakova Clinic

“There are several hypothesized causes of the disease, but autoimmune mechanisms play the main role. It should be understood that vitiligo is not just an aesthetic problem; This is a skin disease, the treatment of which should be regulated by clinical guidelines that use evidence-based medicine methods.

A number of dermatological institutions are currently using various methods of applying ultraviolet light to combat the white patches of vitiligo. When used, there are nuances with regard to further results (patient expectations from treatment), and regarding the risk of side effects. Therefore, in any case, it is better to leave such a problem as vitiligo to a dermatologist, who personally at the appointment with the patient will decide on the appropriateness of treatment, since it is still impossible to completely get rid of the disease. ”

Anton Polyakov Physician of functional medicine, endocrinologist, creator of the Fantel

platform

“In order to cure vitiligo, it is important to include an autoimmune protocol, which involves a long-term exclusion from the diet of foods rich in gluten, dairy products, lectins, omega-6 foods and others. It is also important to work with chronic infections (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes type 6, Sars-Cov-19, and so on). Of great importance is the psychological state of a person, since very often autoimmune diseases develop against the background of severe stress.

6. Oncology

Permanent white or red scaly patches that do not disappear on the lips may be a sign of early skin cancer. But they have pronounced unpleasant symptoms: they hurt, bleed and gradually increase in size. To exclude a serious disease, you need to see a doctor and, if necessary, take a biopsy of the affected skin area. In severe cases, removal, chemical, radiation and immunotherapy will be required.

How to remove white spots on lips

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How to deal with white bumps, dots and spots depends on the cause of their appearance. Modern cosmetology offers the following treatment options.

Laser procedures

Fordyce granules are benign formations of the sebaceous glands. They are present in the norm, so removal for medical reasons is not required. Laser treatment can be used during removal, but then, the cosmetologist emphasizes, the risk of scarring increases: there are not the best aesthetic results, which are even more difficult to deal with. In addition, laser removal will not solve the problem of the appearance of new points on the lips.

Zareta Marshani:

“There are no 100% effective methods of dealing with white spots on the lips, however, such formations on the skin (miliums, epidermal cysts and others) can be effectively eliminated using hardware methods of destruction: electrocoagulation or laser. ”

Cryotherapy

Some skin problems are treated with cold spot treatment. Zareta Marshani believes that cryotherapy is an excellent method for the destruction of skin neoplasms, which is the most organ-preserving, less painless, and does not require divisive rehabilitation: “However, this method rarely helps to get rid of points the first time and is not suitable for every problem. So, when removing formations of the sebaceous glands, cryotherapy is not effective enough, especially when it comes to large elements.

Mechanical methods

Many squeeze white dots at home in front of a mirror. In no case should you do this, since there is a high risk of infection and inflammation, and the wound will heal even longer.

Zareta Marshani:

“Usually, after the hardware removal of large elements, a special dermatological spoon is used, which helps to completely remove the remaining sebaceous contents. In some cases, when removing small milia, a specialist can use a mechanical method – a puncture with a needle. But the doctor should choose the treatment, and I do not advise doing it at home. ”

Expert commentary

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Anton Polyakov:

“White dots themselves are harmless, but they can present a certain cosmetic problem, especially for women. The main reason for their appearance is a hormonal imbalance, especially characteristic of puberty. Most often, this is a relative excess of testosterone, which leads to increased production of sebum.

Also, this defect can occur due to a violation of carbohydrate metabolism (insulin resistance), polycystic ovary syndrome, a violation of the synthesis of aromatase (an enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol), genetic mutations, and even due to the use of hormonal drugs. The ducts that are responsible for removing the secret are clogged. As a result, a sebaceous cyst forms inside, which looks like a white dot. When it appears, it is recommended to restore the balance of sex hormones.

If self-medicated, it can lead to injury to the skin, as well as contribute to infection, which leads to a more pronounced cosmetic defect. There is a conservative method of treatment with jojoba oil, as well as a retinoid. Correction schemes are prescribed by specialists, as there are contraindications. Surgical treatment works with the help of laser technologies, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation. They also have a number of contraindications, you need to consult a doctor. In any case, it is important to work with the cause, that is, the hormonal imbalance, and not try to eliminate the effect.

Removal of any skin changes alone entails health risks. Treatment should take place in conjunction with a specialist, after determining the problem and assessing the condition of the body.

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Irina Rudevich

ilosis, tropicalis), typing. PCR – Protos Medical Center

Mucosal candidiasis is an infectious and inflammatory process caused by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida on mucous membranes. Oral candidiasis and genital candidiasis are of the greatest clinical importance.

Yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida (Candida spp.) are considered to be representatives of the normal mucosal microbiota of the human body. Indeed, they can be detected in about 60% of healthy adults in the oral cavity and in 12% of women in the vagina. Normally, yeast fungi are in equilibrium with the bacterial commensals of the mucous membranes and do not cause any inflammatory changes (“healthy carriage”). In some situations, however, the growth of yeast fungi increases, which is accompanied by a local infectious and inflammatory process – candidiasis, which is also known as “thrush”.

There are more than 150 species of candida, some of which are pathogenic to humans: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. krusei, C. parakrusei, C. parapsilosis, C. guillermondi. Candida albicans is the most common causative agent of the disease.

Mucosal candidiasis is very common. Risk factors for oral candidiasis are infancy and old age, the presence of severe diseases with immunodeficiency (especially leukemia, lymphoma, carcinomatosis and HIV), poor oral hygiene, Sjögren’s syndrome, diabetes mellitus and other endocrinological diseases, wearing dentures, the use of inhaled and systemic glucocorticoids. Risk factors for genital candidiasis (vulvovaginitis) are less clear, but estrogen imbalance and antibiotic use have been suggested.

The clinical picture of mucosal candidiasis is quite characteristic (presence of crumbly white deposits against the background of hyperemia in pseudomembranous form of candidiasis), but it may resemble other diseases, primarily leukoplakia and lichen planus. For the differential diagnosis of these diseases, laboratory tests are carried out.

Given the high prevalence of “healthy carriers” of Candida, many people can be detected with a slight overgrowth of yeast-like fungi. In the absence of any clinical signs of candidiasis, such growth has no clinical significance. On the other hand, the abundance of yeast colonies (more than 104 CFU / ml) in a patient with minimal signs of candidiasis or without them at all, but with risk factors for this disease, should alert the doctor and may require the appointment of antimycotic drugs.

PCR analysis (polymerase chain reaction) is a modern diagnostic method based on the detection of unique DNA sequences characteristic only for a certain pathogen in the biological material under study. In the test material, specific DNA of the causative agent of thrush is found – varieties of the Candida fungus – C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis / C. tropicalis. Candida detection by PCR is the most objective and accurate among other research methods. High accuracy will necessarily show the presence of a fungus in the body, but this does not mean that it was he who caused the patient’s illness.

Given that candidiasis of the mucosa (primarily the oral cavity) is sometimes a symptom of a more serious disease, additional laboratory tests may be recommended in some cases, including blood glucose, thyroid, parathyroid, genital glands and adrenal glands, HIV analysis and immunological studies.