Candida mycosis is common in humans. Although the appearance of this fungus is not enough to identify an oral candidiasis. You need a doctor to check it.
The oral thrush or candida albicans is usually located in the oral space, settling in the lining of the mouth and sometimes being able to reproduce in excess causing different symptoms. The people who are most exposed to this fungus are immunocompromised. Although it should not be forgotten that newborns and elderly people are also prone to suffer the appearance of this fungus, since their immune system is weaker. If you are a healthy person, oral candidiasis may be a minor problem, although it all depends on whether your immune system is strengthened.
Causes of the oral thrush
When our physical conditions are normal, our immune system works to expel those factors that are harmful to our health, such as viruses, bacteria or in this case, fungi, in order to maintain a balance in our body. Although sometimes, our protection mechanism fails us and causes this fungus to reproduce and produce oral candidiasis.
You are likely to get thrush if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- Diabetes: if you have this disease and you are not treating it, or you are not controlling diabetes more properly. It is very likely that your saliva has high amounts of sugar and that will favor the appearance of infection.
- Vaginal thrush: this fungus originates from the same fungus that causes oral thrush.
- Antibiotics: these medicines kill bacteria that are healthy and prevent the fungus from reproducing.
- Other dental problems: you use dentures or your prosthetic do not fit perfectly, this causes dryness in the mouth and leads to infection.
- Weak immune system: it is very likely that older people or babies are prone to oral candidiasis, since their immunity is below. There are also treatments that can affect our system such as chemotherapy.
Causes of oral thrush in babies
This fungus often occurs in newborns, when the mother or the baby himself have been taking antibiotics. Candidiasis reproduces in hot and humid areas, so the baby’s mouth or the mother’s nipples are ideal places where it can appear. Your child probably doesn’t need treatment, as it can go away within a few days.
How to prevent oral thrush
To prevent the appearance of this fungus, there are a number of indications that can help you reduce this risk.
- Rinse your mouth: if you use inhalers often, you may want to use mouthwashes or use hot water and brush your teeth after taking the medicine.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss.
- Watch what you eat: try to limit the consumption of foods that contain high levels of sugar, as it can stimulate the growth of candida.
- Remove dentures at night: clean them daily and ask your dentist how best to clean the type of dentures you use.
- Visit your dentist regularly: especially if you suffer from the above or have diabetes.
If you think you may suffer from some type of symptom derived from oral thrush, at Gross Dentists we can help you and tell you what kind of treatments you can perform for this and other oral infections.
Ortodoncista especializada en el sistema de ortodoncia invisible, extensa trayectoria profesional y un gran número de pacientes satisfechos con los resultados obtenidos tras la finalización de su tratamiento.