Which Thrush Treatment is Best?

If you, or your child, is suffering from oral thrush, you’ll want to arm yourself with good information about the best thrush treatment and prevent it from recurring.  Before discussing the different treatment options for thrush and the relative benefits of each one, let’s take a moment to review the signs and symptoms of oral thrush.

Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth that is most common in babies and toddlers, and in elderly adults and those with weakened immune systems.  Symptoms of oral thrush include irritated, painful swelling in the mouth and mucosal tissues, accompanied by patches of white lesions with the consistency of cottage cheese.  These soft lesions can be scraped away to reveal the red, irritated tissue beneath.  The lesions may bleed slightly when the white patches are removed.

Breastfeeding mothers are also susceptible to breast infections from thrush, since the fungal infection can be easily passed back and forth between mother and baby.  This is why it’s important to treat both mother and baby to prevent future recurrence of infection.

There are a variety of conventional treatments for thrush, as well as many natural remedies that can help get rid of active thrush infections, and serve to prevent future infections.  Very mild cases of thrush will sometimes resolve on their own, but most infections do require some sort of thrush treatment.

The most common oral thrush treatment is prescription anti-fungal medication that can be taken in tablet, lozenge, or liquid form.  In some cases, thrush can become resistant to these medications, requiring the use of stronger, alternative medications.  This type of resistance is most common in immunocompromised people, especially those with HIV.  Ampohtericin B is commonly prescribed when other oral thrush treatment medications prove ineffective.

Doctors also commonly recommend eating unsweetened yogurt with active cultures.  The cultures are known as probiotics, and can help restore natural bacteria that fight yeast.  Quality probiotic supplements in capsule or powder form can also be purchased in the refrigerated section of most health food stores.  It’s important to buy only quality, refrigerated probiotic products, since the cultures require refrigeration to remain active.

Natural treatments for thrush include proper hygiene, dietary modifications, eating specific foods and herbs with anti-fungal properties, and applying gentian violet directly to the infection to kill the yeast organisms.

Hygienic measures include maintaining good oral health through daily brushing and flossing.  Though it may seem counterintuitive, mouthwashes should be avoided, since they may also kill harmful bacteria that keep yeast in check.  A tongue scraper can be used to remove the fungal infection (the white cream-cheese like patches in the mouth), provided the infection isn’t too painful.

A whole foods diet that emphasizes vegetables, legumes, lean protein, and a moderate amounts of whole grain can also keep thrush in check.  A daily serving of yogurt with active probiotic cultures is also helpful.  Sugary foods, alcohol, yeast-containing foods (bread, for example), and refined carbohydrates should be avoided.

Oregano oil drops and raw garlic also have powerful anti-fungal properties.  For natural thrush treatment, 10 drops per day of oregano oil is recommended.  A raw garlic clove can also be chewed, or held in the mouth for several minutes.

A 1% solution of gentian violet can be used as a highly effective remedy for oral thrush in babies, children, and adults.  This solution can sometimes be purchased at a typical pharmacy, but is more likely to be available at a health food store.  To treat a baby, simply dip a cotton swab in the solution and allow the baby to suck on the swab for a few seconds.  Nursing babies should then be put to the breast.  If the baby’s mouth and the mother’s breasts are purple, then the treatment has been adequately applied.  This can be repeated once per day for four days.  Children and adults can simply swab the mouth the gentian violet solution.  It should be noted that this is a messy treatment and may sometimes stain clothing.

The best treatment for oral thrush really depends upon the severity of the symptoms, and the condition and age of the affected person.  For severe, acute symptoms, prescription medication may be the best option.  This is also true for those with severely weakened immune systems who might be at risk for serious systemic infection without conventional medical treatment.  For breastfeeding mothers and babies, and mild to moderate cases of oral thrush, natural treatments are safe and effective.

Yeast Infection Cures

Finding the right yeast infection cures will require you to do a little research.  There are many different ways that women have found relief from the yeast infections that can cause so much discomfort and pain.  If you have been looking for a good solution to your yeast infection problem, take a look at what some other women have tried and found to be successful.

Your diet is the first place that you should look if you are having recurrent yeast infections.  There is a reason that the yeast is building up in your body and usually the reason is the food that you are giving your body.  Stay away from sugars and carbohydrates as much as possible.  Of course, you should not give up carbohydrates completely, just make sure that you are not eating too many.  Overeating and poor diet is one of the major reasons for yeast infection.

The clothing that you are wearing may also make it more likely for you to get a yeast infection.  Do not wear clothing that is too tight to avoid the conditions that can lead to a yeast infection.  This is one of the big causes of yeast infection as well.  Yeast breeds in warm moist places, so you should make sure that you are not giving yeast a place to grow.

Look online for some of the natural Yeast Infection cures that people have used successfully to cure their yeast infections.  There are a number of natural ingredients that you might have in your home right now.  A natural cure will not necessarily work for everyone, so you will have to do a little experimentation to find the right one.  Apple cider vinegar in your bath is one that you might try.  Also, yogurt that contains active cultures is another popular choice among those who are looking for a natural yeast infection cure.

If you wish to find a speedy cure for your yeast infection, there are many products that were once only available by prescription.  These products are now available in your local drugstore and can be very effective at curing the yeast infection problem.  Some of the treatments that you will find will only require a one day treatment.  Others will require you to use the treatment for seven days.  The choice is yours when you are selecting one of these products.

A visit to the doctor is in order if you are not sure if you are actually suffering from a yeast infection.  It is very important that your doctor rule out a bacterial infection before you attempt any of the cures on your own.  A bacterial infection will not respond to the treatments that work with a yeast infection.  If the doctor determines that you have a bacterial infection, you will be treated with antibiotics instead.

The doctor can also prescribe a medication if you have a yeast infection that does not respond to any other treatment. Having a yeast infection is one of the most irritating things that you can suffer through.  Finding a quick cure is in most people’s interest.  Find the one that will work for you so that you can put an end to your yeast infection suffering.