Friday, June 26, 2009

Ways to Treat an Oral Yeast Infection

By Dana Goldberg

When you think of a yeast infection the first thing that may come to mind is a vaginal infection, but the fact is they can occur on all areas of the body. One type of infection that may be particularly bothersome is the oral yeast infection.

Thrush, also known as oral yeast infection, can invade the mouth quickly causing an array of different symptoms. It can affect men or women of any age.

Fact about the causes of oral yeast infections

People who have a weak immune system or even those who have had excessive antibiotic therapy often have a limited amount of good bacteria in their body. Without the normal bacteria that our bodies need to fight infection it leaves us open to things like yeast infections.

Signs and symptoms

Once you are infected with an oral fungus it won't take very long at all to start experiencing symptoms.

You will almost immediately experience signs of an oral yeast infection which will come on in the form of a creamy discharge inside your oral cavity. Your tongue and inner cheeks will be especially vulnerable to the substance.

Once the oral cavity starts showing signs of thrush lesions will develop. These lesions exude a thick and clumpy white substance and often times begin bleeding. The results of this are very painful for the sufferer. These symptoms will be shortly followed by fever and difficulty swallowing anything.

An oral yeast infection can quickly get out of control if left untreated. This could lead to more serious diseases from this fungal infection travels into the body through the throat.

Getting diagnosed

As soon as you see your first signs of thrush you will need to see your dentist. They can perform various tests in order to determine whether or not you have this infection. The test may include a sample of the lesions being viewed under a microscope, or even an x-ray. Your doctor will then talk to you about your treatment plans.

Treatments

If you are diagnosed with an oral yeast infection your dentist can prescribe some kind of antifungal medication. There are some really good probiotic yogurts on the on the market. They will help by replenishing your good bacteria throughout your entire digestive system.

People who develop thrush generally have underlying health issues. If you have developed this infection you will want to make an appointment with your family physician to find the cause of your compromised immune system.

The best way to eliminate the chances of oral yeast infections is by taking preventive measures. Always follow good oral hygiene and avoid foods with a lot of yeast in them. These foods will cause yeast infections in your oral cavity and digestive system.

Oral yeast infections do not have to be a problem. With a little care you can be free of these infections with minimal effort.

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