Oral candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by elevated levels of the yeast Candida in the mouth. Although candida yeast is in everyone's mouth, excessive amounts can actually have negative health effects. However, don't worry as the symptoms of oral candidiasis are fairly easy to identify, especially as they will generally involve white or yellowish patches, a reddish tint in the mouth, or pain in the tongue and/or inner cheek area. If you feel you are experiencing it, immediately consult a doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment recommendations so that the infection does not spread to other parts of your body. In addition to medical treatment, the severity of oral candidiasis can also be reduced by consuming yogurt or acidophilus pills.
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Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Oral Candidiasis
Step 1. Watch for white or yellowish patches on the tongue and inner cheek area
Observe the inside of your mouth to identify the presence or absence of white patches of varying size. For example, the patches that appear may be very small or even resemble a thin layer that covers the entire surface of your tongue or cheeks. In addition, these patches or lesions may also feel raised or shaped like cottage cheese. If you find it, the possibility of oral candidiasis should start to be calculated.
Oral candidiasis can spread to the roof of the mouth, tonsils, gums, and the area behind the throat. Therefore, white lesions or patches may also be found in these areas
Tips:
The lesion may bleed if scraped, rubbed, or scratched.
Step 2. Watch out if the area inside your mouth feels itchy
Since oral candidiasis can cause dryness in the mouth, you are more likely to feel an itchy sensation in the area of the tongue and cheeks. In addition, you may also feel as if you have a lump of cotton ball in your mouth, causing a tingling and itching sensation. If these symptoms are accompanied by irritation and dryness, you most likely have oral candidiasis.
Chances are, the dryness will not go away even if you've done any method, such as drinking as much water as possible
Step 3. Watch out if the corners of your lips look cracked or red
Oral candidiasis can make your skin and lips feel dry. That is why, often the corners of the sufferer's lips will look cracked or even bleed. If your lips are also experiencing this condition and are painful, do not ignore the possibility of an oral candidiasis infection.
Although it really depends on the level of dryness of the lips, chances are you will also find cracks in other areas of the lips
Step 4. Watch for a red, burning, or painful mouth
Oral candidiasis can make your mouth sore, especially if left untreated for a long time. Therefore, observe the color of your tongue, cheeks and gums. Do all three look flushed? Or, are all three painful and burning? If so, you most likely have oral candidiasis.
- The pain and irritation that occurs will make it difficult for you to eat and drink. In addition, the pain that appears may feel worse when you are doing both activities.
- If you wear dentures, the area under your teeth will likely look red and painful.
Step 5. Be aware that your ability to taste food has decreased
In some cases, oral candidiasis can develop so severe that the sufferer has difficulty tasting food. Specifically, the condition may occur because lesions or patches on their tongue block this ability. Therefore, be aware if the food you eat tastes different or doesn't even have any taste. Most likely, you do have an oral candidiasis infection.
- Your appetite may also decrease because all the food you eat tastes bland.
- Try eating your favorite foods and identifying whether or not they have a different taste than usual.
Step 6. See your doctor if you have difficulty swallowing
In very severe cases, the lesions may spread to the throat and make it difficult for you to swallow food and drink. Generally, this condition occurs when your immune system has started to weaken. If you experience this, immediately consult a doctor or visit the Emergency Unit (ER) to get the right treatment.
Some people feel like the food they are trying to swallow is stuck in their throat
Step 7. Immediate treatment if fever occurs
If your infection gets worse, you're more likely to have a fever. In some cases, this is a sign that your yeast infection has spread! Therefore, immediately consult a doctor and get emergency treatment if you experience it.
Don't worry too much because the truth is, your infection can still be treated. However, a medical examination should be carried out immediately so that the infection does not continue to spread to other parts of your body
Method 2 of 3: Getting a Medical Diagnosis
Step 1. Check with your doctor if you think you have oral candidiasis
Remember, oral candidiasis must be treated immediately so it doesn't spread to other parts of your body! Therefore, immediately see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations. Most likely, your doctor will examine the condition of your mouth before confirming the diagnosis.
Usually, oral candidiasis can also be treated by a dentist, provided the condition is not caused by another medical disorder
Step 2. Let the doctor examine white patches or lesions in your mouth
If you have white lesions or patches inside your mouth, your doctor should examine them to confirm the diagnosis of oral candidiasis. Previously, convey all the symptoms you are experiencing along with their duration. After the basic examination is done, the doctor will determine whether or not additional tests are needed to get an accurate diagnosis.
If the lesion has spread to the esophagus, the doctor may perform a biopsy by scraping the area. In addition, an endoscopic procedure may also be performed by inserting a small camera into the throat so that the condition of the lesion can be seen more clearly
Step 3. Allow the doctor to scrape off the white lesions or patches inside your mouth
Chances are, the doctor will perform an examination by scraping one or more areas in the mouth. In particular, the doctor will observe whether the area bleeds when the procedure is performed, which is actually one of the symptoms of oral candidiasis. After that, the doctor will examine the sample taken under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and discuss the results with you.
In some cases, doctors will not be willing to perform the procedure if they have not received a definite diagnosis
Step 4. Perform a diagnostic process to identify the underlying condition of the infection
If your doctor suspects that an underlying disorder is causing oral candidiasis, you will most likely be asked to do a blood test to get a proper diagnosis. If this is the case, do not hesitate to perform a physical examination and complete blood count procedure to identify whether or not the suspicion is true. After that, you and your doctor can discuss the relevant treatment options.
If the underlying disorder is not treated, it is highly likely that oral candidiasis will return in the future
Method 3 of 3: Treating Oral Candidiasis
Step 1. Use a special tongue cleaner after brushing your teeth to remove any remnants of infection
After brushing your teeth in the morning, gently clean your tongue with a special tool. Although it can't completely get rid of the infection, at least it can improve the condition of the tongue which has white patches or lesions as a symptom of inflammation.
By maintaining oral hygiene, the oral candidiasis that you experience will heal by itself after a few weeks
Step 2. Gargle with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil for 20 minutes every morning
Coconut oil can help kill the yeast that causes oral candidiasis. Every morning, gargle with a spoonful of coconut oil for 20 minutes, and make sure the oil gets all over the surface of your mouth and the area between your teeth. After that, throw the coconut oil in the trash instead of the sink so it doesn't clog your drain.
This traditional method of treatment is known as “oil pulling.”
Step 3. Avoid processed or sugary foods
Remember, snacks high in sugar and simple carbohydrates are the perfect food for the yeast in your mouth. As a result, consuming them can make your infection worse! Therefore, you should stop consuming sweets, sugary drinks, sweet snacks, and processed foods that may contain sugar.
- Even natural sugars, such as those found in fruits, can encourage yeast growth, you know! Therefore, if you have oral candidiasis, you should limit the consumption of fruit as much as 1-2 pieces per day.
- If you still want to eat fruit, you should choose the type of fruit that has low sugar content, such as berries and citrus fruits. In other words, avoid fruits that are high in sugar content such as mangoes, grapes, and pears.
Step 4. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking caprylic acid supplements
Caprylic acid, which is found naturally in coconut oil, may help treat your oral candidiasis. Ask your doctor for help to recommend a good quality brand of caprylic acid supplement.
Consult your doctor before taking any supplements. Also tell if you are taking supplements or other drugs to make sure they do not interact negatively with the supplements you are going to take
Step 5. Eat yogurt to balance the levels of candida yeast in your body
If possible, buy yogurt that contains active cultures to maximize results. In general, eating yogurt can help restore the balance of bacteria and yeast in your mouth and body, and consuming one serving of yogurt daily can help treat oral candidiasis.
- One serving of yogurt is equivalent to 180 ml or one standard container of yogurt.
- Yogurt can help treat mild oral candidiasis. However, you should still get medical treatment from a doctor to maximize the benefits.
Step 6. Take an over-the-counter acidophilus pill to balance the levels of good and bad germs in your mouth
Over-the-counter acidophilus pills can help balance the levels of bacteria so that there is no excess yeast in the body. If you want to buy it, try to consult a doctor to make sure that the drug is safe for you to consume. Then, consume the drug in accordance with the recommended use and the dosage rules listed on the packaging.
- Acidophilus pills can be purchased at many online and offline pharmacies.
- Like yogurt, acidophilus pills can help treat mild oral candidiasis infections. However, you should still ask your doctor for help to make sure the infection is completely gone and won't come back again.
Step 7. Ask your doctor to prescribe the right antifungal medication
Most likely, you will need to take antifungal medication to treat a candida yeast infection that affects the mouth. Therefore, ask your doctor for a prescription and use these medicines according to the recommendations given by him. Generally, antifungal drugs should be used daily for 10-14 days, and are prescribed by a doctor in the form of:
- Antifungal gum
- Medical gel
- Antifungal mouthwash
- antifungal pills
Step 8. Use antifungal nipple cream if the baby you are breastfeeding has oral candidiasis
Be careful, the infection experienced by the baby can be transmitted through your nipples. That is, the cycle of transmission of infection will continue to revolve between you and the baby. to stop it, ask your doctor to prescribe an antifungal cream that can be applied directly to the nipple to treat the infection.
Chances are, the doctor will also prescribe a mild dose of antifungal medication to the baby. If this is the case, make sure that these medicines are taken or used as directed by the doctor
Step 9. Treat the underlying medical disorder of the infection
Chances are, there is an underlying medical condition that makes you more susceptible to developing oral candidiasis. If this is the case, work with your doctor to treat the underlying medical disorder to prevent the infection from reoccurring.
For example, diabetes may increase your risk of developing oral candidiasis. To minimize these risks, you can start to control blood sugar levels and follow medical advice from your doctor
Tips
- Do not worry. Oral candidiasis cannot be transmitted to other people.
- You are at increased risk of oral candidiasis if you wear dentures, smoke, take antibiotics or corticosteroids, or have a medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, or AIDS.
- Maintain good body hygiene to prevent oral candidiasis infection. In particular, brushing and flossing can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
