What type of doctor treats oral thrush

It occurs on your tongue and the lining of your mouth. It can occur in both newborns and adults with certain health conditions. For adults, the main symptom of thrush is the sores, or patches. These can bleed if you scrape them or when you brush your teeth. You also may have pain when swallowing. Thrush is caused by the fungus, Candida. Although everyone has germs in their mouth, your immune system works to regulate them.

You can have too much Candida. Having too much of this fungus causes the oral thrush infection. Thrush is most common in newborns because their immune systems are still developing. Newborns also can sometimes have thrush at birth if their mother had a vaginal yeast infection at the time of delivery.

Thrush is easy for a doctor to diagnose. He or she will look at your tongue and mouth to check for sores. The doctor may scrape one of the sores to get a sample to examine. If you have sores in your throat, your doctor may do a throat culture to examine the fungus.

You can help prevent thrush by practicing good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth, and floss every day. If you use an inhaler, rinse your mouth out after each use. People who have diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar. When your blood sugar is high, extra sugar collects in your saliva and fuels candida. If you are at risk of getting thrush or have chronic thrush, talk to your doctor about ways to manage the condition.

Your doctor will decide if you have a mild or severe case of thrush. Even mild cases should be treated by your doctor. After treatment, you can try to prevent getting thrush again by eating yogurt and taking acidophilus pills. Oral thrush in babies may also cause difficulty feeding and irritability or fussiness. If you suspect that your baby might have oral thrush, make an appointment with their doctor. Find out why this is important for keeping you and your baby healthy.

Oral thrush is most common in babies and older adults, who tend to have weaker immune systems. But it can occur at any age. Younger adults can develop oral thrush, especially if they have an impaired immune system. For example, adults are more likely to develop thrush if they have a history of certain medical conditions , medical treatments, or lifestyle habits that weaken their immune system. In otherwise healthy adults, oral thrush is unlikely to cause serious problems.

Babies, toddlers, and older adults are more likely than others to develop oral thrush. Certain medical conditions, medical treatments, and lifestyle factors can also increase your risk of thrush by weakening your immune system or disrupting the balance of microbes in your body.

In people with healthy immune systems, oral thrush rarely causes complications. In severe cases, it may spread to your esophagus. Without proper treatment, the fungus that causes thrush may enter your bloodstream and spread to your heart , brain , eyes , or other body parts.

This is known as invasive or systemic candidiasis. Systemic candidiasis can cause problems in the organs it affects. It can also cause a potentially life-threatening condition known as septic shock.

If you develop a yeast infection in another part of your body, get treatment. In some cases, an infection can spread from one part of your body to another. Some studies suggest that eating certain probiotic foods or taking probiotic supplements might help limit the growth of C. However, more research is needed to learn about the role that probiotics might play in treating or preventing oral thrush.

Some people believe that limiting or avoiding certain foods may also help curb the growth of C. For example, some people have suggested that limiting refined carbohydrates and sugars can help treat or prevent oral thrush and other yeast infections. However, this diet lacks scientific support. Get more information about what this diet entails and the limits of the scientific evidence supporting it. Candida yeast naturally lives in and on your body, but an overgrowth can lead to health problems.

Here are 7 signs of Candida overgrowth and how to…. Esophageal thrush is a yeast infection of the throat. Got a symptom but not sure what's causing it? Use our award-winning symptom checker to find out — it's free! All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe.

View more details in our safety page , or read our editorial policy. Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth. It is not contagious and is usually successfully treated with antifungal medication. It is also called oral candidosis or candidiasis because it is caused by a group of yeasts called Candida. Speak to your doctor if you develop symptoms of oral thrush. If left untreated, the symptoms will often persist and your mouth will continue to feel uncomfortable.

In severe cases that are left untreated, there is also a risk of the infection spreading further into your body, which can be serious.

Your doctor will usually be able to diagnose oral thrush simply by examining your mouth. Diagnosis of thrush depends on the location and identifying whether there is an underlying cause. The goal of any oral thrush treatment is to stop the rapid spread of the fungus, but the best approach may depend on your age, your overall health and the cause of the infection.

Eliminating underlying causes, when possible, can prevent recurrence. Thrush may return even after it's been treated if the underlying cause, such as poorly disinfected dentures or inhaled steroid use, isn't addressed. You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or pediatrician. However, if you have an underlying condition that's contributing to the problem, you may be referred to a specialist for treatment.

The doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.