Home Remedies for Oral Thrush

Having an oral thrush in the mouth can be painful because we consume anything through the mouth. In such a situation, when there is an infection in the mouth, then many problems may have to be faced in eating and drinking. Therefore it is necessary to protect it before it grows. That is why in this article of My Health Only, we have brought every little and big information related to home remedies for oral thrush and the cause of oral thrush. Along with this, here we will also learn about oral thrush treatment.

Start reading

What is an Oral Thrush?

Oral thrush is a type of oral infection, also known as oral candidiasis. Due to this, sores inside the mouth and difficulty in swallowing food may have to be faced. This infection is caused by a fungus called Candida. This fungus is usually present in small amounts on the mouth, digestive tract, and skin, which is controlled by other bacteria. Sometimes, due to some disease or medicines, their balance can be disturbed, due to which this infection can increase and cause oral thrush.

Readahead

In this part of the article, let’s take a look at the causes of oral thrush.

Causes of Oral Thrush

As already mentioned in the article, oral thrush can be caused by Candida fungus. Normally, this fungus is always present in our mouth in small amounts, but an increase in its quantity can cause oral thrush i.e. infection of the mouth. Many reasons can be responsible for the growth of Candida fungus, which is given below:

• Weak Immunity – A weakened immune system can increase the chances of Candida fungus growing and causing oral thrush.
• Health-related problems – If you have been troubled by any health-related problem for a long time, then the chances of getting oral thrush can increase.
• Young children or the elderly – Young children or the elderly may be more likely to develop oral thrush.
• Having HIV – Patients with HIV or AIDS may have an increased risk of oral thrush.
• Cancer treatment – People with cancer can have this problem if they are taking chemotherapy or any medicines related to it, which can weaken the immune system.
• Asthma – People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are taking inhalers and steroid medicines may also be more likely to get oral thrush. Let us tell you that asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are diseases related to the lungs.
• Taking medicines – If someone is taking antibiotics, they can destroy some healthy bacteria. These also include some bacteria that prevent the Candida fungus from multiplying.
• Dentures – Dentures, if they do not fit properly, can also be a cause of oral thrush.

Continue reading

After knowing the causes of oral thrush, now let’s talk about the symptoms of oral thrush.

Symptoms of Oral Thrush

The symptoms of oral thrush can be many, which we are talking about below:

• White coating on the inside of the cheeks, tongue, throat, and upper part of the mouth
• Redness or pain
• Velvet sores or cotton-like feeling inside the mouth
• Loss of taste in food
• Pain while swallowing
• Mild cracks and redness in the corners of the mouth
• Bleeding while brushing

Stay with us

Let us now know in detail about the home remedy for oral thrush.

Top 12 Home Remedies for Oral Thrush

Here we are telling some home remedies for oral thrush, with the help of which its symptoms can be reduced to a great extent. Let us know how oral thrush can be treated with the help of home remedies.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Stuff:

• 1 glass of lukewarm water
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (apple vinegar)
• Honey (optional)

How to use:

• Mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of lukewarm water.
• If you want to taste honey can be added to it.
• Sip it slowly and drink it.
• You can do this twice a day.

How is it beneficial?

Tips to reduce oral thrush include the use of apple cider vinegar. In fact, a related study found apple vinegar to be able to show antifungal effects against Candida fungus. At the same time, let us tell you that an oral thrush is an infection caused by a fungus called Candida. This is the reason why using apple cider vinegar can prove to be beneficial in home remedies to reduce oral thrush.

2. Oil Pulling With Coconut Oil

Stuff:

• 5 tsp coconut oil

How to use:

• Take a tablespoon of coconut oil in the mouth.
• Then gargle with it for some time.
• Then spit out the oil after gargling and gargle with clean water.
• After that, you can brush.
• Until the oral thrush is not relieved, then this process can be done in the morning with a stale mouth.

Note- Do not make the mistake of swallowing oil while gargling the oil, as the oil may contain bacteria and harmful toxins, which can enter the body and leave a bad effect on health.

How is it beneficial?

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic treatment used to improve oral health. It involves gargling with various edible oils, in which the use of coconut oil is also mentioned.

At the same time, the antifungal properties of coconut oil can be effective in destroying yeast fungus. Candida fungus is believed to be the cause of oral thrush. In such a situation, oil pulling with coconut oil can be beneficial to get relief from oral thrush.

3. Curd

Stuff:

• A spoonful of curd

How to use:

• Put a spoonful of curd in the mouth.
• Leave it like this for 5 minutes before swallowing.
• After that swallow it.
• You can do this three times a day.

How is it beneficial?

Using curd for oral thrush can also be effective. It has been clearly mentioned in research that good bacteria called Lactobacillus are found in curd, whose anti-fungal effect can work to relieve Candida infection. Let us tell you that oral thrush is also a fungal infection caused by a fungus called Candida. On this basis, it can be believed that the consumption of curd can help in the treatment of oral thrush.

4. Baking Soda

Stuff:

• A glass of water
• Tsp baking soda

How to use:

• Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water.
• When it dissolves well, gargle with this solution.
• You can do this 2 to 3 times a day till then.

Note- While doing this remedy, keep in mind that the mixture prepared from baking soda and water should not be swallowed. It can leave negative effects on health.

How is it beneficial?

Baking soda, also scientifically known as sodium bicarbonate. It is enriched with anti-fungal properties. In this case, it can eliminate the fungus causing oral thrush. On this basis, it can be believed that the use of baking soda can also help in the treatment of oral thrush. However, more research is needed in this regard.

5. Essential Oil

Stuff:

• Mouth cream or gel as needed
• 2 to 3 drops essential oil

How to use:

• First, take a safe mouth cream or gel.
• Add two to three drops of essential oil to it.
• Then mix it well and apply it to the affected area inside the mouth.
• Keep your mouth open for 10 minutes.
• After that wash the mouth with a gargle with clean water.

How is it beneficial?

The use of certain essential oils may be effective in eliminating the candida fungus that causes oral thrush. It is mentioned in research that essential oil has anti-fungal properties, which can relieve oral thrush by destroying Candida fungus. Keep in mind that use this remedy only externally. Also, always use safe mouth gel or cream for this.

6. Garlic

Stuff:

• 2 to 3 raw cloves of garlic

How to use:

• First of all, put raw garlic in the mouth one by one.
• After that chew it for about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Swallow it after chewing it well.
• You can do this three times a day.

How is it beneficial?

This garlic recipe can also be beneficial in oral thrush treatment. Actually, garlic contains allicin, which is rich in anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. Both of these effects can help in relieving the infection by fighting the fungus that occurs in the mouth. On this basis, it would not be wrong to say that the consumption of garlic can be included in the home remedy for oral thrush.

7. Saltwater

Stuff:

• A glass of lukewarm water
• Half teaspoon salt

How to use:

• Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water.
• Gargle with this solution.
• This remedy can be done thrice a day.

How is it beneficial?

It has been mentioned above in the article that Candida infection is the main cause of oral thrush. At the same time, research on salt found that it has antifungal properties. This property of salt can be helpful in reducing the problem of oral thrush along with getting rid of the candida virus. In such a situation, salt can be used as a home remedy to get rid of oral thrush.

8. Cranberry juice

Stuff:

• A glass of cranberry juice

How to use:

• Have a glass of cranberry juice for breakfast.

How is it beneficial?

According to research available on NCBI, cranberry juice has anti-fungal properties, which can provide relief to a great extent from the problem of oral thrush by removing the fungus that causes infection in the mouth. On this basis, it can be believed that the consumption of cranberry juice can also be helpful in oral thrush.

9. Lemon Juice

Stuff:

• A glass of lukewarm water
• Half teaspoon lemon juice

How to use:

• Squeeze half a teaspoon of lemon in a glass of water.
• If you want you can add honey for taste.
• It can be consumed twice a day.

How is it beneficial?

Lemon juice can also be effective as a home remedy for oral thrush. This is confirmed in research published on the website of NCBI (National Center of Biotechnology Information). Research has found improvement in people with HIV who consume lemon juice during the treatment of oral candidiasis. On this basis, it can be said that lemon juice can be effective in oral thrush treatment.

10. Grape Seed Extract

Stuff:

• 2 teaspoons grape seed extract
• Half a cup of water

How to use:

• Mix grape seed extract in half a cup of water.
• Drink this water twice a day.

How is it beneficial?

Grape seed extract may be beneficial for treating oral thrush. According to research, grape seed extract may be effective in inhibiting the growth of candida. An ongoing animal study in this regard has found that grape seed extract can significantly improve the condition of candidiasis. In such a situation, the consumption of grape seed extract can be helpful in preventing oral thrush.

11. Pineapple

Stuff:

• Half a cup small pieces of pineapple

How to use:

• Eat pineapple by chewing it slowly 2 to 3 times a day.

Note- Consuming this in large quantities can cause other problems like itching in the mouth, swelling of the tongue, cough.

How is it beneficial?

Pineapple has been used for years as traditional medicine. The bromelain present in pineapple acts as an anti-fungal agent, which can help eliminate fungus. On this basis, the consumption of pineapple during oral thrush can also be beneficial.

12. Orange Juice

Stuff:

• A glass of orange juice

How to use:

• Drink a glass of orange juice when you have oral thrush.

How is it beneficial?

Vitamin C is present in abundance in oranges. According to scientific research, vitamin C can be helpful in the control of a fungus called Candida. At the same time, the cause of oral thrush is also Candida fungus. On this basis, it can be believed that consuming orange juice as a home remedy for oral thrush can prove to be beneficial.

13. Aloe Vera Juice

Stuff:

• 2 tsp aloe vera juice
• A glass of water

How to use:

• Mix aloe vera juice in water and consume it.
• In the case of oral thrush, this mixture can be drunk once or twice a day.

How is it beneficial?

Aloe vera can be used to remove infections in the mouth. Actually, anti-fungal properties are found in aloe vera, which can play an important role in treating oral thrush. As we mentioned earlier, oral thrush is caused by a fungus called Candida. On this basis, it can be assumed that it can provide relief from the problem of oral thrush.

14. Mouth Wash

Stuff:

• One or two green tea bags
• A glass of hot water

How to use:

• First of all, take a glass of warm water.
• Put one or two green tea bags in it.
• When this water becomes slightly lukewarm.
• Then gargle with it by filling a small amount in the mouth.
• It will act as an antifungal mouthwash.
• Do this at least twice a day.

How is it beneficial?

Consumption of green tea can be beneficial in mouth infections. In fact, catechins present in green tea have anti-fungal properties, which can help treat oral infections caused by the Candida fungus. In such a situation, the use of homemade green tea mouth wash can prove useful in oral thrush treatment.

Scroll

After the home remedy for oral thrush, also know when to visit the doctor.

When should I consult a doctor?

If the problem of oral thrush is serious, instead of relying on home remedies, one should contact the doctor. Below we are telling about those symptoms, in which if there is no improvement, then one should not delay in consulting a doctor.

• If a thrush-like sore is present in the mouth.
• Difficulty or pain in swallowing while eating.
• If you are HIV positive, taking chemotherapy, or taking immunity-related medicines and you see symptoms of infection in the mouth, then consult a doctor without delay.

There’s more ahead

Further in the article, you will get information related to the treatment of oral thrush.

Treatment of Oral Thrush

Along with taking home remedies for oral thrush, it is also necessary to get it medically treated if required. Learn below what doctors can suggest for oral thrush.

In oral thrush treatment, the doctor may recommend the use of antifungal medication. If symptoms are normal, it is usually recommended to take antifungal medication for 7 to 14 days.
The doctor may prescribe the use of antifungal mouthwash to treat mouth infections.
May suggest clotrimazole lozenges. It is used to treat oral infections in adults and children above 3 years of age.

Read now preventions

After knowing the treatment of oral thrush, now know the ways to avoid oral thrush.

Ways to avoid oral thrush

By keeping the following things in mind, oral thrush can be avoided.

• Maintaining oral health is essential to avoid oral thrush.
• If using a corticosteroid inhaler for asthma, gargle after each use.
• If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar under control to avoid oral thrush.
• If the problem of oral thrush occurs again and again, then regular antifungal medicine can be taken as per the doctor’s suggestion.
• Brush the teeth at least twice a day.
• Clean your dentures thoroughly, especially after an infection.
• Gargle with salt in warm water.
• Avoid consumption of sugar and sweets.

Now you must have come to know about oral thrush very well. Do not ignore oral thrush, as a little carelessness can turn into a serious problem. The home remedies for oral thrush given in the article can help in reducing its symptoms to a great extent. However, if the symptoms do not improve, contact the doctor immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions –