How To Diagnose and Manage Oral Thrush Symptoms
Oral Thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth that can be uncomfortable and difficult to manage. It is caused by the fungus Candida albicans, which is present in small amounts in the mouth. Symptoms of oral thrush include white patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, and gums; redness or soreness in these areas; and difficulty swallowing due to a feeling of something stuck in the throat. If left untreated, oral thrush can spread to other parts of the body.
The first step to diagnosing and managing oral thrush symptoms is for your healthcare provider to take a swab from inside your mouth for laboratory testing. This will help determine if you have an infection with Candida albicans or another type of fungus. Your healthcare provider may also do a physical exam and ask about any recent illnesses or medications that could be causing your symptoms.
Once diagnosed with oral thrush, treatment usually involves antifungal medications taken orally or applied topically inside the mouth as lozenges or gels. These medications work by killing off the fungus causing your symptoms while allowing normal levels of healthy bacteria to remain in your mouth. Additionally, it’s important to practice good hygiene habits such as brushing twice daily with toothpaste containing fluoride and flossing regularly as well as drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day to help flush out bacteria from your system.
In some cases, home remedies may also help improve symptoms associated with oral thrush such as rinsing your mouth several times per day with warm salt water or baking soda mixed with water; using diluted hydrogen peroxide rinses; avoiding foods high in sugar content; avoiding smoking cigarettes; and avoiding alcohol consumption until after treatment has been completed. Additionally, probiotics may help restore healthy bacteria levels within your digestive tract which can aid in treating oral thrush when used alongside antifungal medications prescribed by your healthcare provider.
If left untreated, oral thrush can lead to more serious health concerns such as esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and even pneumonia if it spreads into other parts of the body like lungs so it’s important that you seek medical attention right away if you believe you are suffering from this condition so that proper diagnosis and treatment can be provided quickly before more serious complications arise from this infection
Tags:
. Oral Thrush,
Candida albicans,
white patches,
redness/soreness,
difficulty swallowing,
antifungal medications,
good hygiene habits,
warm salt water/baking soda rinses,
hydrogen peroxide rinses,
avoiding sugar/smoking/alcohol consumption,
probiotics,
esophagitis/dysphagia/pneumonia.,
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