Oral thrush is basically infection that effects tongue and can spread in mouth also. It is often experience by babies and often called as oral candidiasis in medical terms.
This condition can even affect the other portions of the tongue around your mouth. You need not worry if you are one of them who are experiencing this condition, however it is harmless we have disclosed number of home remedies for oral thrush in this article.
Let’s get deep in to the topic:
Table Of Contents
- What is oral thrush?
- Causes of oral thrush
- Symptoms of oral thrush
- Home remedies to treat oral thrush
- Coconut Oil
- Salt Water
- Baking Soda
- Aloe Vera
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Green Tea
- Yogurt Or Butter Milk
- Lemon Juice
- Garlic
- Boric Acid
- Grape Fruit Seeds Extract
- Tea Tree And Peppermint Essential Oil
- Risk factors of oral thrush
- Preventive Measures
What Is Oral Thrush?
Oral thrush is a tongue infection caused by the formation of yeast called candida albogans which develops insider your mouth and on the tongue.
Generally, everyone have little amount of this fungus in mouth without causing any harm. When this fungus begins to grow uncontrollably it leads to mouth infection called oral thrush.
Most of the individuals will not face any severe health issues because of this condition, it rarely causes complications. However, this condition can cause complications for those who have weak immune system.
Causes Of Oral Thrush
Oral thrush can easily occur by spreading of fungus called Candida albogans uncontrollably in your mouth. It can also occur, when your immune system gets weaken by using certain medications which automatically reduces good micro organisms which prevent the infection.
Diseases like diabetes, leukemia and HIV will increase the risk of oral thrush and one of the surprising thing is that same fungus will also cause yeast infections in pregnant women too.
Symptoms Of Oral Thrush
Oral thrush typically develops suddenly, but symptoms become noticeable and more serious unknowingly.
Some of the symptoms include:
- Inflammation in oral
- Creamy lesions on your tongue or roof of the mouth or sides of your cheeks
- Erosion of tooth enamel
- Pain
- Loss of taste
- Sometimes bleeding
- Oral mucus
Home Remedies To Treat Oral Thrush
As we known the causes, symptoms of oral thrush, just take a look on some home remedies too!
1. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is capable of eliminating thrush easily from your mouth and prevents all the bacteria which often lead to cause of infections in your mouth.
What To Do
- Mix couple of teaspoons of coconut oil in a glass of warm water. Gargle this mixture twice or thrice per day.
- You can also soak a cotton ball in coconut oil and dab the affected area with this mixture regularly to get rid out of thrush.
2. Salt Water
Salt water is one of the best home remedies to treat thrush easily. The powerful components in salt water will remove all the thrush from your mouth and keep it healthy.
What You Need To Do
- Mix one table spoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle with this mixture twice or thrice in a day. Probably, by the second week you will see the results.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is considered as another effective home remedy for removing thrush in your mouth.
What You Need To Do
- Mix table spoon of baking soda in two table spoons of water to form a paste. Dab this paste on the affected area by using a cotton ball. Apply this paste two times in a day to get relief.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel also helps to heal thrush and get rid of certain bacteria and virus that causes infections.
What You Need To Do
- You can directly apply aloe Vera gel on the affected area or you can drink ¼th glass of aloe vera juice regularly.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Use apple cider vinegar to maintain healthy oral hygiene as well as to get rid of thrush. This can be used as mouthwash.
What You Need To Do
- Mix one table spoon of apple cider vinegar in one glass of warm water. Gargle this mixture at least for 3 times in a day.
6. Green Tea
Green tea also heals thrush which can be used for both infants and adults.
What You Need To Do
- Boil green tea leaves in a cup full of water.
- Allow it to cool down at room temperature, now apply this mixture on the affected area by using a cotton ball.
7. Yogurt Or Butter Milk
The powerful properties in yogurt will fight against the fungus called Candida and remove thrush. The probiotic properties in yogurt will also help to heal inflammations and cuts in the mouth.
What You Need To Do
- Eat a small cup of yogurt twice or thrice regularly to heal the thrush.
8. Lemon Juice
The anti fungal properties in lemon can remove the fungus of candida and heals thrush.
What You Need To Do
- You just swish little amount of lemon juice in your mouth for at least 4-5 times in a day.
9. Garlic
The antimicrobial properties in garlic will help to remove all the bacteria and fungi which lead to infection in your mouth.
What You Need To Do
- Eat raw garlic or take garlic pills regularly to get rid of thrush.
10. Boric Acid
Boric acid can be used as mouth wash for the people who are experiencing oral thrush.
What You Need To Do
- Mix one table spoon of boric acid in cup of warm water and use it as a mouth wash twice in a day.
11. Grape Fruit Seeds Extract
Grape seed extract will also help to heal thrush easily. This oil is often known to reduce inflammation and cuts in the mouth.
What You Need To Do
- Mix two table spoons of oil in cup of warm water and apply directly on the affected area.
- You can use this mixture for mouth wash and rinse your mouth several times in a day.
12. Tea Tree And Peppermint Essential Oil
Essential oils do wonders in maintaining oral health. Especially mixture of tea tree oil and peppermint oil will heal thrush and maintain oral hygiene.
What You Need To Do
- Mix 2 table spoons of tea tree oil with one table spoon of peppermint oil
- Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and apply it on the affected area twice in a day to get rid of thrushes.
Risk Factors For Oral Thrush
The following are some of the risk factors which help you to protect yourself from certain fungal infections which causes oral thrush
- Antibiotics: Never take antibiotics until and unless doctor’s prescribe, because this may kill the bacteria or it resists the growth of good bacteria in your mouth.
- Dry Mouth: people with less amount of saliva formation in their mouth are more prone to oral thrush.
- Excessive Usage Of Mouthwash: Excessive usage of mouthwash also leads to kill the good bacteria and leads to the cause of oral thrush easily.
- Smoking: even smokers are at higher risk to develop oral easily in their lives.
- Diet: if you are following the diet which has low in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 will also affect the infected rates.
- Steroid Medication: Long lasting use of steroid medication also leads to increase the risk of developing oral thrush.
Precautions To Prevent Oral Thrush
The following precautions will help you to prevent the occurrence of oral thrush.
- Brush your teeth twice in a day.
- Rinse your mouth after eating or every food intake and meals
- Don’t include excessive amount of sugar in your diet.
- If you have diabetes, make sure you maintain it in control state
- Stop smoker, if you are a smoker
- Wash and clean your dentures thoroughly after meal and remove them during night
It is possible to treat and prevent oral thrush by following all preventative measures and if none of them works, then immediately consult your dentist.