Thrush is a yeast infection that can affect both newborns and adults who are suffering from a weak immune system. When this infection affects the mouth, it leads to accumulation of candida fungus along the lining of the mouth. This condition is also known as oral thrush or oral candidiasis. Under normal conditions also, the candida is present inside the mouth but when one is suffering from oral thrush, it starts to overgrow and exhibit the symptoms.

Oral thrush manifests in the form of lesions on the tongue and the inner cheek. Under extreme conditions, the infection might spread to gums, tonsils and the back of the mouth as well. Usually, this condition does not have any serious repercussions if your immune system is robust but in case the immune system is weakened, the symptoms can be difficult to control.

Causes of oral thrush
Usually, the candida fungus is kept under control by the bacteria present in the body. But, sometimes, due to any particular illness or medication, this balance is disturbed. As a result, the candida fungus starts going out of control. This leads to the development of oral thrush. The conditions that can be responsible for this disease are

• Stress and anxiety
• Cancer
• Severe diabetes
• Reaction to medication
• Smoking
• Improperly fixed dentures
• Poor oral hygiene
• Weak Immune system

Symptoms of oral thrush
In most cases, the symptoms do not manifest until the infection has increased severely. The common symptoms that indicate oral thrush are

• Cracking and redness along the corners of the mouth.
• White lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, gums, and tonsils.
• Difficulty in eating and swallowing due to soreness.
• Raised lesions that look like cottage cheese
• Bleeding that occurs due to rubbing and scraping of lesions
• Pain under the dentures
• Loss of taste

In extreme cases, where a person is suffering from HIV or cancer, the lesions might spread along the digestive tract and cause problems with swallowing.

In some cases, if an infant is suffering from oral thrush, the infection might be passed on to the mother also during breastfeeding. As a result, the infection keeps traveling between the mother and the child.

Lactating mothers who get infected with thrush during breastfeeding may experience symptoms such as

• Acute pain within the breast.
• Pain in the nipples during feeding the child.
• Sensitive and cracked skin around the nipple.
• Flakiness in the skin under the areola.

How to prevent oral thrush
There are some easy routines that can reduce the chances of any individual contracting oral thrush, such as

• Practicing healthy oral hygiene.
• Getting treatment for chronic health issues.
• Regular visits to the dentists.
• Quitting or reducing smoking.
• Reducing the consumption of fermented food.
• Reducing the usage of mouthwash.

By practicing some care and avoiding certain food products, one can reduce the chances of oral thrush.