Dentist Edmond: Revealing Information On Thrush
Did you wake up one morning and notice a strange, white coating inside your mouth? If so, a condition called thrush may have developed. Today, our dentist in Edmond is going to discuss the symptoms of thrush, how it is normally treated, and how to prevent thrush in the future.
Here’s what our dentist in Edmond would tell you to look for in your mouth to determine the possibility of thrush.
Thrush Symptoms: White, slightly raised areas on tongue, inner cheek, roof of mouth, gums, tonsils, or the back of your throat. You may see curdled looking spots much like cottage cheese. In some cases the areas may be painful and might bleed when you brush your teeth.
What is thrush exactly?
Thrush is an infection caused by the candida fungus, a yeast that can grow and cause rashes. The candida fungus is always present in the mouth, digestive tract, and in the skin and it is necessary, but sometimes other illnesses or disruptions within the body can trigger the overgrowth of the fungus. Smoking, wearing ill-fitting dentures, and having poor dental hygiene are also all reasons candida fungus can grow out of control.
Treatment of thrush can be taken care of in most cases with an anti-fungal medication prescribed by your doctor.
As our dentist in Edmond mentioned earlier, prevention is possible. Prevention begins with good oral hygiene practices including:
- Brushing your teeth at least twice per day
- Flossing at least once per day
- Having dental checkups at least every 6 months
- Rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash once or twice per day
- Quit smoking or limit time around smokers
- Treat chronic health issues
- Limit foods with sugar and yeast
It’s important to note that anyone can get thrush, but it happens most for those with vulnerable immune systems. Take care of your body and your oral hygiene for best prevention! To have a dental checkup and make sure you’re in the clear, please feel free to contact our dentist in Edmond.
Philip Gray, DDS can be reached by calling 405-330-5458.
