Do I Have Oral Thrush?

Do you have creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils?

Do you have slightly raised cottage cheese-like lesions in your mouth?

Do you have redness, burning or soreness in your mouth (for example, a sore tongue or sore gums)?

Do you have difficulty eating or swallowing due to the lesions in your mouth?

Have you noticed slight bleeding of the lesions in your mouth if they are rubbed or scratched?

Do you have cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth?

Do you have a cottony feeling in your mouth?

Do you have loss of taste?

Do you have an unpleasant taste in your mouth?

If you wear dentures, do you have redness, irritation and pain under them (denture stomatitis)?

Do you have difficulty swallowing and pain or feel as if food is getting stuck in your throat?

Have you recently taken antibiotics?

If you have asthma, do you use a steroid inhaler?

Do you have any long-term health conditions?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have oral thrush. Oral thrush is an infection of the lining of your mouth caused by a fungus called candida albicans. Normally, candida lives in your mouth, but when it overgrows it can cause problems. To reduce your risk of developing oral thrush you should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily, limit the amount of sugar-containing food you eat, and keep your blood sugar under control if you have diabetes. See your dentist regularly, especially if you wear dentures. If you use a steroid inhaler for asthma, rinse your mouth after taking the medication.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have oral thrush. Oral thrush is a fungal infection of your mouth that is caused by candida albicans, hence it is called oral candidiasis. Anyone can get oral thrush, but it is more common in babies and people with a weakened immune system. It is not a serious health condition, but people with a weakened immune system can have serious symptoms that are difficult to control. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will examine the lesions inside your mouth and take a small scraping of the lesions for testing. Treatment includes antifungal medications.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have oral thrush. Oral thrush is a yeast infection that develops on the lining of the mouth due to a yeast called candida. Oral thrush is harmless to otherwise healthy people. For people with weakened immunity, untreated oral thrush can lead to serious complications such as the spread of candidiasis to the esophagus or other parts of your body. Oral thrush is usually treated with antifungal medications in the form of gels or liquid that you apply directly inside your mouth or as tablets or capsules. Oral thrush is usually cleared within 14 days.