Overview
Symptoms
The symptoms can include:
- White or cream coloured lesions, usually on the tongue and cheeks but sometimes also on the roof of the mouth, gums or back of the throat
- Cracking and redness at the corners of the mouth
- Loss of taste
- A cottony feeling in the mouth
Causes
Oral thrush is caused by an overgrowth in the mouth of the fungus Candida albicans, which normally occurs there without any problem. It is more likely to occur in babies and the elderly, in those who have weakened immune systems, in those with diabetes or in people who are taking certain medications such as antibiotics that disturb the natural make-up of micro-organisms in the body.
Treatments
Treatment for mild thrush is available from pharmacies. It is in the form of an oral gel and treatment lasts for at least seven days.
Make sure you see your GP if you don’t see any improvement after using the oral gel for one week, if your oral thrush is severe or if you have pain when swallowing.
Treatment for Vaginal thrush is available on the Minor ailments scheme.