Also known as thrush or oral candidiasis, oral yeast infection is a subtype of a fungal infection that grows in the mucous areas of the mouth. When neglected, oral yeast infection can spread to the throat and the esophagus and be the author of more serious complications. Oral candidiasis is often a temporary condition in babies, but can indicate malfunctions of the adult autoimmune system.

Having yeasts in the mouth does not necessarily result in oral candidiasis. Candida species, predominantly Candida Albicans, are normal oral bacteria that are present in 30% - 60% of healthy people and live off their host without negative effects. However the oral surfaces can predispose the multiplication of the yeast and disseminated infections. Conditions encouraging this include:

1. Drug therapies diminishing host defenses and altering the oral cavity.

2. Diseases weakening host defenses by their systemic nature.

3. Antibiotic treatments that damage the equilibrium of the organisms in the intestines by eliminating beneficial gastrointestinal bacterial flora that typically hold Candida at bay.

4. Oral vulnerability to vectors of candiasis, including medication, mineral or vitamin deficiencies, food allergies, mouth irritation, and so on.

5. Stress, anxiety or depression as contributing psychological factors.

6. Changes in physiological conditions such as growing old, having a baby, infancy, diet considerations, lack of iron, getting diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypoadrenalism etc.

7. Modification of salivary flow due to phenomena such as Sjogren's syndrome and types of antidepressants, which then favors multiplication of Candida.

8. Local oral factors, such as wearing dentures and the difficulties of hygiene that they bring. These include bad hygiene from using porous dentures and lack of washing from saliva that unable to pass around the dentures. This explains why thrush median prevalence is at 85% for wearers of dentures with normal oral mucosa, compared to just 37% of users with natural teeth.

Most commonly, the following oral yeast infection symptoms are:

1. A tongue that is red with no bright spots, peeling surfaces or patches on the surface of the tongue then following this.

2. Angular Cheilitis or red cracks at the edges of the mouth.

3. Color contrast in the inner surface of the mouth where a red background shows up white, cream colored or yellow spots that bleed if scrubbed.

4. Extra tissue that it is impossible to wipe off the mouth

Oral candidiasis can also manifest itself by a disagreeable burning feeling in the infected area, together with its visible symptoms.

Newborn babies are commonly impacted by oral thrush. Additional tests should be done for oral yeast infection that is suspected. The first signs are restlessness and irritability during feedings, as well as refusal to accept a pacifier.

Oral yeast infection can be effectively resolved by certain anti-fungal drugs, like:

1. Nystatin (sold as mycostatin, mycolog and nilstat): an antibiotic treating different subclasses of fungal infections. Typically, after 2 days of using this medicament, oral thrush is eliminated. Non-toxic and not detrimental to bacteria or viruses, it can be taken orally three to fives times per day either as a tablet or a liquid. However, because of the multiple doses that are necessary, lower patient compliance may be observed.

2. Ketoconazole (sold as mycelex, monistat and nizoral): antifungal drug changing the cell wall of the fungus to destroy it.

3. Triazole antifungal agents, such as itraconazole and fluconazole. Fluconazole can be taken orally as a tablet or a liquid every day for a period of at least several weeks. Itraconazole is used as part of a continuous treatment typically lasting at least 3 months or until a laboratory test shows no further fungal infection. Despite oral and intravenous possibilities, poor absorption and various secondary effects (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain in the abdomen) are among the disadvantages of Itraconazole.

4. Amphotericin B (brand names: fungizone, adria and apothecon): a strong antibiotic for eradicating fungal infections. It has toxic aspects and may lead to multiple different secondary effects. As a polyene antimycotic drug, this is usually prescribed for in severe cases of candidiasis involving hospitalization.

Although there are differences in usage, certain elements are common to all of these oral yeast medications. Firstly, medication therapy for oral thrush targets the external symptoms of yeast infection, like much other conventional medication, thus neglecting the internal reasons that bring on candida infection overgrowth. Secondly, alleviation brought by the medication is typically temporary, and all the more so for recurring oral yeast infection. Finally, long-term use of these drugs may cause secondary effects.

The holistic and all-natural remedy can address the internal reasons of oral candidiasis and also its immediate symptoms. Different to prescribed medicaments, oral yeast infection can also be cured using herbal or homeopathic remedies, changes in diet, detox and in lifestyle. Symptoms are thus eradicated and candida infection is prevented from recurring.