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Many haven’t heard of the term oral thrush so the question often comes up, what is oral thrush? Oral thrush is basically another form of a yeast infection caused by the yeast candida fungus that is in the mouth. A candida infection can also occur in other parts of the body such as diaper rash in infants and a vaginal yeast infection in women. Anyone can be affected by oral thrush since it can occur in babies and adults, this is why it is important to know what is oral thrush.
What Causes Oral thrush?
Once you know what is oral thrush you are likely wanting to know what causes it so you can prevent the infection from occurring. There are small amounts of candida fungus that are always present in our mouth, digestive tract and skin. Most of the time other bacteria and microorganisms in healthy individuals will help to keep the yeast in check. However, this delicate balance can be disturbed by some illnesses, stress and medications which cause the fungus to grow out of control and cause the yeast infection.
What Are The Symptoms
Know that you know what is oral thrush and what causes it, you should know what symptoms to look out for. Oral thrush is a condition that can develop suddenly, but it can also be a chronic condition that persists over a long period of time. The presence of a creamy white, slightly raised lesion in the mouth on the tongue or inner cheeks is usually the most common sign. But sometimes these lesions can spread to the roof of your mouth, the gums, the tonsils and the back of the throat.
The lesions will appear like cottage cheese and can be painful, they may also bleed slightly when you scrape them or brush your teeth. If the lesions spread to the esophagus or swallowing tube in severe cases it can lead to pain or difficulty swallowing, a feeling of food stuck in your throat and a fever if the infection continues to spread to other parts of the body. Oral thrush can eventually spread to the lungs, liver and skin if it isn’t treated, this can also happen if individuals have a weak immune system such as those with cancer and HIV.
How Is It Diagnosed?
The last part you need to learn when it comes to what is oral thrush, is how it is diagnosed. By examining your mouth a dentist can make a diagnosis. Often a light brushing of the lesions will show a reddened area that bleeds slightly. To confirm the diagnosis the dentist might also perform a microscopic examination. If oral thrush has extended into the esophagus then other tests might be required in order to make a diagnosis.
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