Oral Thrush

Oral thrush — also called oral candidiasis (kan-dih-DIE-uh-sis) — is a non contagious condition in which the fungus Candida Albicans accumulates on the lining of your mouth. Candida is a normal organism in your mouth, but sometimes it can overgrow and cause symptoms.

Oral thrush is usually harmless. When you have oral thrush, your mouth is red inside with white patches but when you wipe off the white patched (which you should not do) they leave behind red spots which bleed. It's common in respiratory patients using corticosteroid inhalers, people with a dry mouth, those with poor oral hygiene, babies and older people with dentures. It can be easily treated with medicines bought from a pharmacy.

Other symptoms in adults are:

• Cracks at the corners of the mouth
• Not tasting things properly
• An unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Pain inside the mouth (for example, a sore tongue or sore gums)
• Difficulty eating and drinking

NHS UK NHS UK Oral Thrush confirms you might get oral thrush if you're:

• Taking antibiotics over a long time
• Using corticosteroid inhalers
• Having cancer treatment like chemotherapy

The pharmacy can help with oral thrush

Oral thrush can be easily treated with a mouthwash or mouth gel bought from a pharmacy e.g. Miconazole (Daktarin Oral Gel). The gel is suitable for adults, children and babies over the age of 4 months.

To help the healing process and reduce the risk of reinfection pharmacy staff should remind patients / customers to:

• Take care of your teeth: brush twice a day, clean your dentures, and go for regular check-ups even if you have dentures
• Brush your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush if you do not have any teeth
• Rinse your mouth after eating or taking medicine
• Go to regular check-ups if you have a long-term condition like diabetes
• Sterilise dummies regularly
• Sterilise bottles after each use
• Not wear dentures at night
• Not keep wearing dentures if they do not fit properly – see your dentist
• Not smoke or at least reduce smoking as much as possible. (This is a great health promotion opportunity to recommend a smoking cessation regime and even link selling e.g. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)).