Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Oral thrushtends to affect people withweakened immune systemsbut is also seen in people who smoke, wear dentures, or take antibiotics. Treatments includeantifungalcreams, lotions, and ointments. Good oral hygiene can go a long way toward preventing oral yeast infections.
This article describes the symptoms and causes of a yeast infection on the lips and mouth. It also includes oral thrush pictures and explains how the condition is diagnosed and treated.
Zarina Lukash / Getty Images
Symptoms and Oral Thrush Pictures
Oral candidiasis commonly affects the lips, tongue, throat, roof of the mouth, and the lining of the cheeks and back of the lips.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoTunatura / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Tunatura / Getty Images
Symptoms of oral thrush include:
In babies, symptoms of oral thrush may also include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022
Complications
Oral candidiasis is relatively uncommon in people who are healthy. When it occurs, the infection may be limited to the mouth and be readily treated with antifungals.
However, if a person is severelyimmunocompromised, a yeast infection might spread from the mouth to the feeding tube (esophageal candidiasis), develop on the skin (cutaneous candidiasis), or even spread through the blood to affect multiple organs (invasive disseminated candidiasis).
These complications are most often seen in people with advanced, untreatedHIV.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Signs, Symptoms, and Complications of Thrush
Causes of Oral Thrush
Candida albicansis a naturally occurring fungus found on the body that the immune system can usually control. But when the immune system is substantially weakened, the fungus can suddenly grow out of control and cause a yeast infection.
Oral candidiasis is common in people with acompromised immune system. This is why it is often referred to as an “opportunistic infection” because it only occurs when a weakened immune system gives it the opportunity to thrive.
Oral thrush can also affect relatively healthy people if the yeast is given the “fuel” it needs to grow, such as high sugar levels in saliva.
Risk factors for oral candidiasis include:
Oral candidiasis is common in young children, elderly persons, and those with certain risk factors.It can also affect babies, particularly those under 6 months, as they don’t yet have a fully developed immune system.Thrush can be passed to the infant during breastfeeding if the nipples are also infected.
Is Oral Thrush Contagious?Oral thrush is not contagious. The fungus,Candida albicans,is present in the mouth, mucosal tissues, and skin of every human.Candidawill only overgrow if the immune system is weak or factors like smoking or antibiotics promote its growth.
Is Oral Thrush Contagious?
Oral thrush is not contagious. The fungus,Candida albicans,is present in the mouth, mucosal tissues, and skin of every human.Candidawill only overgrow if the immune system is weak or factors like smoking or antibiotics promote its growth.
Is Thrush Contagious?
Diagnosing Thrush on Lips
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Oral candidiasis can be classified into three forms:PseudomembranousErythematousHyperplastic
Oral candidiasis can be classified into three forms:
Abiopsymay be performed if a condition calledchronic hyperplastic candidiasis(CHC) is suspected. This is an uncommon variation that causes persistently raised lesions that are difficult to treat. By obtaining a tissue sample, the lab can make a positive diagnosis and deliver the appropriate treatment.
What Causes a Ranula (Cyst Under the Tongue) and How Is It Treated?
Differential Diagnosis
Several conditions look similar to oral thrush and may need to be investigated in thedifferential diagnosis. These include:
How Long Does Lip Thrush Last?In people with a passing infection or illness, oral candidiasis may be mild and spontaneously clear on its own within days. For others, it is a sign of a more serious underlying condition and one that may not resolve on its own without treatment. When treated appropriately, symptoms tend to clear within seven to 14 days.
How Long Does Lip Thrush Last?
In people with a passing infection or illness, oral candidiasis may be mild and spontaneously clear on its own within days. For others, it is a sign of a more serious underlying condition and one that may not resolve on its own without treatment. When treated appropriately, symptoms tend to clear within seven to 14 days.
Treating Thrush on Lips
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Mild cases of oral candidiasis may resolve on their own without treatment or with simple changes in habits (such as improved oral hygiene and cleaning dentures regularly). In other cases, the infection may clear once you stop taking antibiotics.
Other remedies include:
Medications
The standard treatment for mild to moderate oral thrush is a topical antifungal medicine applied to the inside of the mouth for seven to 14 days.
These prescription medications include:
Can I Use Over-the-Counter Antifungals?Do not use over-the-counter antifungals like Lotrimin (clotrimazole) to treat oral thrush. These products are intended for external use for conditions like athletes' foot or jock itch. They are not intended to be used inside the mouth.
Can I Use Over-the-Counter Antifungals?
Do not use over-the-counter antifungals like Lotrimin (clotrimazole) to treat oral thrush. These products are intended for external use for conditions like athletes' foot or jock itch. They are not intended to be used inside the mouth.
11 Home Remedies for Oral Thrush and Answers to FAQs
How to Prevent Lip Thrush
If you are vulnerable to lip thrush for whatever reason, there are things you can do to reduce your risk:
Summary
Oral thrush, also referred to as oral candidiasis, is a yeast infection that can cause white patches on the lips and inside the mouth. Other symptoms may include, redness, soreness, and cracking at the corners of the mouth. Babies, the elderly, and those with certain underlying conditions are at higher risk of developing oral thrush. This type of infection can be successfully treated using antifungal medications.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.Mount Sinai.Thrush in newborns.Erfanienejad M, Mahmoudabadi ZA Maraghi E,Hashemzadeah M, Fatahinia M. Epidemiology, prevalence, and associated factors of oral candidiasis in HIV patients from southwest Iran in post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era.Front Microbiol2022;13:983348. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.983348Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Nemours Foundation.Oral thrush.Rajendra Santosh AB, Muddana K, Bakki SR.Fungal infections of oral cavity: Diagnosis, management, and association with COVID-19.SN Compr Clin Med. 2021;3(6):1373-1384. doi:10.1007/s42399-021-00873-9Singh A, Verma R, Murari A, Agrawal A.Oral candidiasis: An overview.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol.2014 Sep;18(Suppl 1):S81–5. doi:10.4103/0973-029X.141325
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.Mount Sinai.Thrush in newborns.Erfanienejad M, Mahmoudabadi ZA Maraghi E,Hashemzadeah M, Fatahinia M. Epidemiology, prevalence, and associated factors of oral candidiasis in HIV patients from southwest Iran in post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era.Front Microbiol2022;13:983348. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.983348Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Nemours Foundation.Oral thrush.Rajendra Santosh AB, Muddana K, Bakki SR.Fungal infections of oral cavity: Diagnosis, management, and association with COVID-19.SN Compr Clin Med. 2021;3(6):1373-1384. doi:10.1007/s42399-021-00873-9Singh A, Verma R, Murari A, Agrawal A.Oral candidiasis: An overview.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol.2014 Sep;18(Suppl 1):S81–5. doi:10.4103/0973-029X.141325
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.Mount Sinai.Thrush in newborns.Erfanienejad M, Mahmoudabadi ZA Maraghi E,Hashemzadeah M, Fatahinia M. Epidemiology, prevalence, and associated factors of oral candidiasis in HIV patients from southwest Iran in post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era.Front Microbiol2022;13:983348. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.983348Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Nemours Foundation.Oral thrush.Rajendra Santosh AB, Muddana K, Bakki SR.Fungal infections of oral cavity: Diagnosis, management, and association with COVID-19.SN Compr Clin Med. 2021;3(6):1373-1384. doi:10.1007/s42399-021-00873-9Singh A, Verma R, Murari A, Agrawal A.Oral candidiasis: An overview.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol.2014 Sep;18(Suppl 1):S81–5. doi:10.4103/0973-029X.141325
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Yeast infection.
Mount Sinai.Thrush in newborns.
Erfanienejad M, Mahmoudabadi ZA Maraghi E,Hashemzadeah M, Fatahinia M. Epidemiology, prevalence, and associated factors of oral candidiasis in HIV patients from southwest Iran in post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era.Front Microbiol2022;13:983348. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.983348
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.
Nemours Foundation.Oral thrush.
Rajendra Santosh AB, Muddana K, Bakki SR.Fungal infections of oral cavity: Diagnosis, management, and association with COVID-19.SN Compr Clin Med. 2021;3(6):1373-1384. doi:10.1007/s42399-021-00873-9
Singh A, Verma R, Murari A, Agrawal A.Oral candidiasis: An overview.J Oral Maxillofac Pathol.2014 Sep;18(Suppl 1):S81–5. doi:10.4103/0973-029X.141325
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