Choose the Right Thrush Treatment For You
What
thrush treatment will work for you? Your age, your overall health and the cause of the infection will all determine which type of thrush treatment is best for you.
Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of the Candida Albicans yeast. Certain factors can cause this yeast to overgrow in warm, moist areas
like our mouth.
Thrush causes can be poor fitting dentures,
diabetes or even pacifiers.
As mentioned, the best treatment for thrush can be different for infants, nursing mothers or the elderly.
However,
the end goal is the same - to kill and control the Candida albicans that is causing the
thrush symptoms.
Infants and Nursing Mothers
If you are breastfeeding and your baby has thrush, it is a good idea to treat both the mom and the baby. If you don't treat both of you,
the infection may simply spread back and forth between you.
Baby and Infant Thrush Treatments
Often, treatment is not always neccessary as thrush may clear on its' own. (Sterilize all bottles, pacifiers, chew toys etc.)
Doctors can prescribe a mild antifungal medication for the baby. Diflucan or nystatin are common prescriptions. It is common to apply these antifungals
to the affected areas. Ask your doctor about using acidophilus capsules if you would like a natural alternative.
Breastfeeding Mothers - Thrush Treatment
Doctors may suggest you use an antifungal cream on your breasts and nipple area. You can also wash your nipples in a solution of 1 tbsp of white
vinegar in 1 cup of water. Pat dry or allow to air dry. Exposing your nipples to the air will help. Change nursing pads regularly so that
your breasts aren't in a warm, moist environment which encourages yeast growth.
Some mothers take garlic capsules to help discourage Candida yeast overgrowth.
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) can be used. Try 10 drops of GSE in 1 ounce of water. Apply to your nipples after nursing. GSE is a powerful natural
antifungal. It is a very bitter taste, so it is best used after nursing.
Pure, virgin, high quality coconut oil can be applied to your nipples. It is another natural antifungal due to its caprylic acid content.
Further Preventative Measures for All Infant Thrush
Whether your baby is formula fed or breast fed, if they he has developed thrush you will also need to clean bottles, pacifiers and breast pumps.
Rinse any bottles, pacifiers, or breast pumps with equal parts water and vinegar. Do this daily until all signs of thrush have cleared.
Make sure you rinse these items well so the vinegar/water solution doesn't come into contact with the breast milk.
Healthy Adults or Children
A non-medical type of thrush treatment is eating unsweetened yogurt. You can also hold the yogurt in your mouth for a few minutes before
swallowing to allow the active bacterial cultures to get to work on the thrush. Yogurt as a quick and easy thrush home remedy is
just one of the many benefits of yogurt.
It is the live acidophilus cultures in yogurt that help fight your thrush infection. If you are not a yogurt fan, you can take acidophilus capsules
or liquid instead. This will help replenish and restore the live bacteria in your system.
A key health benefit of probiotics is their ability to fight
off Candida overgrowth.
Probiotics cannot kill off the thrush fungus, but it can deter it. You may still need specific anti-fungal treatment.
Thrush (which is also known as oral candida) can also be treated with other
oral candida home remedies such as gentian violet, pau d'arco tea, or oil of
oregano.
Coconut oil can be eaten orally. Hold a small amount in your mouth, swish around and swallow. The caprylic acid in coconut oil is a great
antifungal.
You can also try using a soft toothbrush and rinse your mouth with a diluted 3% hydrogen peroxide solution several times a day for thrush treatment.
3 tbsp warm water
to 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide - don't swallow. Or, you can use
apple cider vinegar in a very diluted mixture (1 tbsp vinegar to 3 tbsp warm water) - don't want it eating your teeth enamel!
Adults with Weakened Immune Systems or the Elderly
If you have a weakened immune system, you will likely need to take a prescription antifungal medication for thrush treatment.
This might be a lozenge, a tablet or a liquid that you swish around in your mouth and then swallow.
Some possible complications for long-term antifungal usage is that the Candida albicans yeast can become resistent to the antifungal
medications. If this happens, you may be prescribed amphotericin B. Liver damage can also be a concern, so doctors will likely monitor your
liver health during long-term antifungal use if you have a weakened immune system such as with HIV.
Inhaler Users or Diabetics
Many people these days need to use inhalers. Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral thrush. Try to rinse your mouth after using your
inhaler to help
prevent thrush from developing.
Thrush can be a problem for people who have diabetes. It is absolutely critical that you control your blood sugar levels and monitor your
sugar intake and insulin. If you are struggling with this, consult with your doctor for a plan that will work for you.
The best prevention for thrush is a good, balanced healthy diet,
a healthy immune system and a
healthy digestive tract (another health benefit of probiotics). Most thrush is treatable.
If you find that your thrush isn't clearing up or
you are experiencing recurring thrush problems, you may want to delve deeper and get to the cause of the problem. Recurrent thrush may indicate
a larger problem with Candida that needs attention.
A great resource we recommend for treating thrush is this
3 Day Thrush Cure. This resource will show you exactly how to
clear up your thrush and support
you through your healing.
Have you tried a remedy or thrush treatment that you liked? Why don't you share how it went.
You can submit your own treatment story
or read other visitor's treatment tales.
Let your story help others.
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oral-thrush/ds00408/dsection=treatments-and-drugs
http://chealth.canoe.ca/condition_info_details.asp?disease_id=313
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000626.htm
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