Healthy Living

What Does Oral Thrush Look Like?

What Does Oral Thrush Look Like?

What Is Oral Thrush?

Oral thrush is a common infection; it is also known as oral candidiasis. The infection is caused in the mouth by yeast called Candida. Candida can appear in many forms, out of which the most common for causing oral thrush is Candida albicans. This form of Candida is mostly responsible for the condition. In the body, small amounts of Candida are present and are not contagious. Normally, Candida is found in the lining of skin, mouth, and digestive system, and, generally, Candida is harmless, existing in healthy individuals without causing any problems. In one study, adults were tested for Candida, and in almost half of them, Candida was present in their mouth.

Candida can get out of control in certain individuals. This can cause discomfort and distress. This infection can occur due to illness or infection, when the immune system is compromised. The defense system against the yeast is reduced in people who receive head and neck chemotherapy or radiotherapy. For the essential functioning of the immune system, people need essential elements. They prevent the overgrowth of Candida, hence, people also become prone to thrush due to deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, and folate. Similarly, people become prone to oral thrush due to severe anemia. Since yeast thrives in a sugar environment, people with poorly controlled diabetes may experience an excess growth of Candida.

Since smoking can irritate the oral lining, smoking is associated with thrush, thus making the growth of Candida easier. Also, the mouth lining may be damaged due to wearing poorly fitting dentures. This also allows for an easier invasion of Candida. The harmless bacteria that normally compete with Candida for living space can be killed off by antibiotics, so the risk of thrush may increase due to taking certain medications, such as steroids or antibiotics. Thus, taking antibiotics decreases competition for Candida, allowing them to better thrive. Mouthwash, too, contains antibiotics, and so the same risks apply when mouthwash is used in excess.

Causes

The immune system fends off any bacteria or virus that is recognized as invaders. At the same time, it also ensures that, in the body, the good and bad micro-organisms exist naturally. However, if the immune system is weakened, the levels of Candida albicans in the mouth are not kept in check. The fungus thrives and flourishes, causing an infection. Certain health conditions can upset the immune system’s protective mechanism. Also, some lifestyle habits and use of certain medications, too, can cause this.

Spotting the Signs and Symptoms of Thrush 

In the mouth, oral thrush appears as thick, cream colored or white patches or spots. A raw, red area is left when the patches are wiped off. This red area may bleed slightly. The lining of the mouth may occasionally be red and swollen, too. There may also be no white patches or spots. At the same time, other lesions may appear, such as the tongue becoming red or, in the corners of the mouth, cracks may develop. Vitamin deficiencies, too, can cause these symptoms. For normal cell growth, vitamins are required, so if there is a deficiency of vitamins, then it may cause inflammation of the tongue and mouth corners. As we know, if there is a vitamin deficiency, the chance of getting oral thrush increases.

The Candida can invade and break the mucous lining, and the pain nerves can be stimulated, causing a burning sensation in the area of oral Candida, along with the development of distinctive lesions. This makes it difficult to eat and drink. The invasion of yeast affects the taste buds, so the person may experience a loss of taste, or they may develop an unpleasant taste in the mouth; people with oral thrush may describe a taste “like cotton” in the mouth.

In the vast majority of cases, oral thrush may be diagnosed just by identifying the characteristic white plaques. Occasionally, other conditions may be mistaken for oral thrush. One example is a noninfectious rash, called lichen panus, whose cause is unknown. In the mouth, it can cause white plaques. However, these are not usually associated with pain or a burning sensation. Also, rashes may develop elsewhere, such as in the nails, limbs, and on the scalp. Hairy leukoplakia can be caused by a white plaque in the mouth or on the side of the tongue. Usually, this condition appears in people with weakened immune systems and is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Normally pain is not associated with these plaques. Burns from chemicals or heat can be caused by redness in the mouth combined with white plaques. This redness is similar to that of a rash, and this condition can be painful. However, it is not possible to scrap off the white plaques, and there would be a history of use of chemicals agents, such as burning from food or use of aspirin for toothache. Without specific treatment, the symptoms should resolve in a week or two by themselves. Premalignant leukoplakia is a white plaque in the mouth which is difficult to scrape off. This condition can increase the risk of oral cancer, hence, it is important to meet the doctor if you have an oral plaque that is enlarging in size and is not improving, and if it is associated with lumps in the neck, it could be a sign that the lymph nodes are enlarged. 

What Does It Look Like?

In the initial stages, no symptoms may appear in oral thrush. However, the symptoms may develop as time passes and the fungus continues to grow. These symptoms include:

  • Creamy-white bumps may develop on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, or tonsils
  • When the bumps are scraped off, they may bleed slightly
  • Pain may be experienced at the site of the bumps
  • At the corners of the mouth, the skin may become dry and cracked
  • Swallowing may become difficult

In infants, it can cause:

  • A white, cottage cheese-like coating on the tongue that cannot be easily rubbed off
  • White spots in the mouth sometimes
  • Difficulty feeding
  • The infant gets irritated and fussy

During breastfeeding, the infection can pass on to the mothers from the babies. They both keep infecting and re-infecting each other, thus forming a vicious cycle. The mother may experience the following if the breast is infected with the fungus:

  • Pain, sensitivity, or intense itching at the nipple
  • The areas surrounding the nipple may become flaky or shiny
  • During breastfeeding, severe pain is experienced in the breast that is sharp and piercing

Other symptoms in adults are:

  • Cracking at the corners of the mouth
  • Inability to taste things properly
  • An unpleasant taste in the mouth
  • Pain inside the mouth
  • Difficulty eating and drinking

In babies, other symptoms include:

  • Not wanting to feed
  • Nappy rash

When To See the Doctor 

If a person experiences symptoms of oral thrush, then they should go see a doctor for proper treatment and pain alleviation. In some cases, if the oral thrush is not treated, it can become severe and the infection may spread to other body parts. This can cause serious health problems. The doctor can diagnose the condition just by simply looking at the mouth, however, to determine the underlying health conditions associated with oral thrush, the doctor may sometimes order blood tests.

Anyone can be affected by oral thrush, but it is very common in babies younger than six months and in older adults.