Thrush is caused by the fungus Candida albicans and usually occurs after the mother or baby has taken antibiotics because the fungus tends to grow after the bacteria in the body are destroyed. If the nursing mother has thrush or yeast infection of the nipples while at the same time the baby has thrush, it is important to treat both as the mother can transfer the yeast infection to the baby during the breastfeeding process. In most cases, thrush is considered harmless because the disease itself is easy to treat at home and often resolves without medication. But severe cases of thrush can cause dehydration and fever (rarely), and should be treated by a doctor immediately. Knowing how to recognize the signs of a thrush problem, as well as how to treat mild cases of thrush at home, can help keep your baby happy and healthy.
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Method 1 of 3: Treating thrush with natural remedies
Step 1. Consult your pediatrician before you try any natural or home remedies
The doctor can confirm the diagnosis and give you a professional medical opinion on the best treatment for your baby. Many home remedies for canker sores look safe, but keep in mind that your baby's digestive and immune systems are still relatively immature, and your pediatrician may ask you to act with caution.
Step 2. Give the baby acidophilus
Acidophilus is a bacterium normally found in the healthy digestive tract in powder form. Gastrointestinal fungi and bacteria balance each other in the human body. Frequent use of antibiotics or getting thrush can allow for a spike in fungal growth. Taking acidophilus can help reduce fungal growth and treat the causes of thrush in babies.
- Make a paste by mixing acidophilus powder with clean water or breast milk.
- Rub the paste into the baby's mouth once a day until the thrush heals.
- You can also add a teaspoon of acidophilus powder to formula or breast milk if your baby is bottle-fed. Give acidophilus once a day until the canker sores heal.
Step 3. Try yogurt
If your child is able to swallow yogurt, your pediatrician may advise you to add unsweetened lactobacilli yogurt to your child's diet. It works the same way as achidophilus, namely by balancing the fungal population in the child's digestive tract.
If your child is not old enough to swallow yogurt, try applying it to the affected area with a clean cotton swab. Use only a small amount of yogurt and watch your child closely to make sure he doesn't choke on the yogurt
Step 4. Use red grapefruit seed extract (GSE)
Grapefruit seed extract, when mixed with distilled water and applied daily, can help treat thrush symptoms in some children.
- Mix 10 drops of GSE into 30 ml of distilled water. Some doctors believe that antibacterial treatment carried out on PAM water can reduce the efficiency of GSE.
- Use a clean cotton swab to apply the GSE mixture to the child's mouth every hour while he is awake.
- Wipe the child's mouth before feeding. This step can reduce the bitterness associated with breastfeeding when she has thrush, and can help her return to a normal eating schedule.
- If thrush does not improve significantly after two days of treatment, you can try increasing the concentration of the GSE mixture by dissolving 15 to 20 drops of GSE in 30 ml of distilled water instead of the initial 10 drops.
Step 5. Use virgin coconut oil (first squeeze)
Coconut oil contains caprylic acid which can help fight the fungal infection that causes thrush.
- Use a clean cotton swab to apply coconut oil to the affected area.
- Consult a pediatrician before trying coconut oil as some children may be allergic to coconut oil.
Step 6. Make a baking soda paste
Baking soda paste can help treat canker sores where it hurts, and can be used on the mother's nipples (if the baby is breastfeeding) and in the child's mouth.
- Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with 235 ml of water.
- Apply the paste to the baby's mouth with a clean cotton swab.
Step 7. Try a salt water solution
Mix teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Then apply the solution to the mouth that has thrush using a clean cotton swab.
Method 2 of 3: Treating Thrush with Medicine
Step 1. Apply miconazole
Miconazole is often the mainstay of treatment for pediatricians to treat thrush. Miconazole is produced in the form of a gel that must be applied to the baby's mouth by the parent or caregiver.
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Hands must be clean before applying medicine to children.
- Take teaspoon of miconazole to the thrush area in the baby's mouth, up to four times a day. Use your finger or a clean cotton swab to apply miconazole directly to the canker sore area.
- Do not apply too much gel as this may cause a choking hazard. You should also take care not to put the gel in the back of the baby's mouth because the gel can easily slide down the esophagus.
- Continue miconazole treatment until your pediatrician tells you to stop it.
- Miconazole is not recommended for infants less than six months old. The risk of choking increases markedly in children under six months of age.
Step 2. Try nystatin
Nystatin is arguably more widely prescribed than miconazole, especially in the United States. This medicine is in liquid form and is applied to the thrush area in the baby's mouth using a pipette, syringe, or clean cotton swab coated with nystatin.
- Shake the nystatin bottle before giving each dose. This medication is suspended in a liquid, so it is important to shake the bottle to mix the medication evenly.
- The pharmacist should give you a dropper, syringe, or spoon to measure and administer nystatin. If your pharmacist doesn't provide you with a meter and a device for administering nystatin, follow the instructions on the package.
- If the child is young, the pediatrician may recommend giving half the dose to each side of the child's tongue, or the doctor may suggest using a clean cotton swab to apply the liquid to each side of the child's mouth.
- When your child is old enough to understand your instructions, ask him to roll the nystatin around his mouth so that the medicine can coat the entire surface of his tongue, cheeks, and gums.
- Wait five to ten minutes after giving nystatin before breastfeeding your child, if it's close to your mealtime.
- Give nystatin up to four times a day. Continue taking the medication for up to five days after the canker sores have healed because canker sores usually reappear shortly after treatment ends.
- Nystatin rarely causes side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach discomfort, or may cause allergic reactions in some children. Call your doctor to ask about the possible side effects of nystatin before giving the drug to your child.
Step 3. Try gentian violet
If you have not recovered with miconazole or nystatin, your pediatrician may suggest using gentian purple. Gentian purple is an antifungal solution that is applied to the canker sore area using a cotton swab. This drug is available in almost all pharmacies without the need for a prescription.
- Follow the dosage suggested on the bottle or the doctor's instructions.
- Apply gentian purple to the thrush area using a clean cotton swab.
- Give gentian purple two to three times a day for at least three days.
- Be aware that gentian purple will stain skin and clothing. Gentian purple can cause a child's skin to look purple when treated with gentian purple, but these blemishes will disappear once you stop using the drug.
- Discuss with your pediatrician about using gentian violet as some children may be allergic to medications or to the dyes and preservatives used in gentian violet.
Step 4. Talk to your pediatrician about fluconazole
If other methods fail, your doctor may prescribe fluconazole for your baby. Fluconazole is an antifungal medication taken once daily for seven to 14 days. This medicine will slow the growth of the fungus that causes infection in the baby.
Follow the pediatrician's instructions regarding the dosage
Method 3 of 3: Providing Home Remedies for Thrush
Step 1. Understand the intricacies of thrush
Although canker sores can be painful for your child and difficult for you as a parent, know that in some cases canker sores are harmless to your child. In some cases, thrush resolves within one to two weeks without the use of drugs. In more severe cases, thrush may take up to eight weeks to heal without medication, while doctor's care can help heal thrush in just four to five days. However, sometimes canker sores involve more serious complications, and can be an indication of a more serious problem. Call your pediatrician immediately if your child:
- Having a fever
- Shows bleeding
- Dehydration, or drinking less than usual
- Having trouble swallowing or breathing
- Experiencing other complications that worry you
Step 2. Reduce bottle feeding
Sucking on a pacifier for a long time can irritate your baby's mouth, making him more susceptible to oral yeast infections. Limit bottle feeding to no more than 20 minutes at each feeding schedule. In severe cases of thrush, some babies may not be able to suck on a pacifier because of the pain in the mouth. If this happens, you can feed your baby with a spoon or syringe instead of a bottle. Discuss with your pediatrician to find out the best way not to irritate your baby's mouth further.
Step 3. Limit the use of pacifiers (milk-free pacifiers)
A pacifier is a great way to soothe your baby, but constant sucking on the pacifier can irritate your child's mouth and make him more susceptible to yeast infections.
Whether your child has thrush or not, give a pacifier only when nothing else will soothe him
Step 4. Sterilize pacifiers, bottles and pacifiers if your baby has thrush
To prevent spreading thrush, it is important to store milk and bottles in the refrigerator to prevent mold growth. You should also wash pacifiers, bottles, and pacifiers thoroughly with hot water or put them in the dishwasher.
Step 5. Discuss with your doctor about stopping the use of antibiotics
If a nursing mother develops thrush as a result of taking antibiotics or steroid treatment, she may need to stop taking those drugs or reduce the dose until the thrush clears up. However, this step should only be taken if stopping or reducing the dose of antibiotics or steroids will not cause medical complications for the mother. Talk to your doctor if you believe your medications are causing thrush.
