There are many reasons why yeast infections can develop in the mouth. Basically it can be one of three things that lead to an infection. These are fungi, bacteria or disease. Candida albicans, a fungus, is one of the likely reasons for oral yeast infections. While yeast infections in babies’ mouths are most often referred to as thrush, these infections are called Candidiasis or moniliasis when they occur in the mouths or throats of adults.
It is called a yeast infection but a more accurate description is an outbreak of the Candida fungi. While Candida is a natural part of the flora of our bodies, in the digestive tract and in women’s vaginas, sometimes Candida gets out of balance in the body and grows quickly. This fungus can also live and reproduce inside the mouth and throat and cause a feeling of burning and pain because of the toxins it produces.
There are a range of things that can cause yeast infections in the mouth. The first thing that might be the culprit is the use of antibiotics. Another factor could be if you are undergoing a course of chemotherapy or other drug treatments which can increase your susceptibility to contracting a yeast infection. This is because these drugs produce a favorable environment within your body for growth of Candida. Using these drugs reduces the number of favorable bacteria that normally help keep the Candida in check giving it the chance to grow rapidly.
Diabetes, drug abuse, malnutrition, and a weak immune system also cause changes that make Candida grow more rapidly. Babies and those of advanced age tend more towards developing yeast infections in the mouth. Their immune systems are not strong enough to withstand even a small change in the environment.
People with poorly fitting dentures are prime candidates for developing a yeast infection in the mouth. The mouth’s mucous membranes are more likely to be damaged due to dentures that do not fit properly. These damaged areas may provide the gateway for Candida fungi to take hold and cause a problem.
You will find that oral yeast infections often have a discharge that could be a white to cream color. This may also be accompanied by yellow spots and indicates that the yeast has already spread. This effectively means that the yeast has begun infecting the mouth’s mucous membranes. Oral yeast infection often causes a burning feeling in the mouth and throat. sufferers of this pain describe it as unbearable and medical assistance is urgently sought.
A yeast infection in the mouth is a 2 step process. Firstly, you must treat the underlying cause of the problem. It may be necessary to replace dentures if they appear to be the cause of the infection. Then you can take some form of antifungal drug that will eradicate the fungi. The most popular form of anti fungal medication are pastilles because they are easy to take. As you suck on the pastille, the medication acts directly on the fungus.
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