Stick your tongue out and look in the mirror. A healthy tongue should be pink and slightly red, and covered with tiny nodules. An appearance with a white coating or bumps on the tongue are a deviation from your tongue's normal appearance and may be cause for concern.
A minor infection on the tongue isn't uncommon. Bumps may even appear after an injury from a bite or irritation to some foods, for example hot foods. A canker sore is another common cause of pain on or under the tongue. But if you have large bumps at the back of your tongue, and a coating of white on your tongue it may be a sign of Oral Thrush.
Oral thrush appears as creamy white lesions on the tongue or inner cheeks. It can have a "cottage cheese" appearance. It might also appear as white patches in the mouth, red spots on the tongue. White spots on the tongue, tonsil and inside cheeks, and white red or big bumps on the back of the tongue. Cracks at the corners of your mouth are also another sign. Google oral thrush to see images of it online and see if yours look the same. It can also feel like a painful irritating and burning sensation in the mouth, or have a bad taste in the mouth like poison.
What is Oral Thrush
Thrush is an infection of the mouth caused by the candida fungus, also known as yeast. Candida infection is not limited to the mouth; it can occur in other parts of the body as well, causing diaper rash in infants or vaginal yeast infections in women. Thrush can affect anyone, though it occurs most often in babies and toddlers, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
Web MD explains how small amounts of the candida fungus are present in the mouth, digestive tract, and skin of most healthy people. They are normally kept in check by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body. However, certain illnesses, stress, or medications can disturb the delicate balance, causing the fungus candida to grow out of control and causing thrush.
Medications that upset the balance of microorganisms in the mouth and may cause thrush include:
•Corticosteroids
•Antibiotics
•Birth control pills
Illnesses or medical situations that make candida infection more likely include:
•Uncontrolled diabetes
•HIV infection
•Cancer
•Dry mouth
•Hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy
People who smoke or wear dentures that don't fit properly also are at increased risk for thrush. In addition, babies can pass the infection to their mothers during breast-feeding.
Your dentist can also diagnose thrush by examining your mouth. He or she looks for the distinctive white lesions on your mouth, tongue, or cheeks. Lightly brushing the lesions away reveals a reddened, tender area that may bleed slightly. A microscopic examination of tissue from a lesion can confirm the diagnosis. Thrush can also extend into your esophagus, digestive system and vaginal.
When ones immune system is compromised the symptoms may be more severe.
If you have oral thrush here is a remedy action plan, consider all or some of the following:
1.Antifungal medications, which are generally taken for 10 to 14 days, are often prescribed to treat thrush. These medicines are available in tablets, lozenges, or liquids.
2.Your dentist can have a specific treatment approach designed for you. Because the presence of candida infection can be a symptom of other medical problems, your dentist may suggest you seek care from a medical doctor as well so that any underlying health problems can be treated.
3.Follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush your teeth with organic toothpaste at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Earthpaste can help which is a combination of bentonite clay and real salt which helps to draw out the thrush from the mouth, tongue and esophagus.
4.Use an antibacterial organic mouthwash once or twice a day to help keep your teeth and gums healthy. More than that may mess with the normal balance of microorganisms in your mouth.
5.Limit the amount of sugar and yeast-containing foods you eat which include bread, beer, wine and refined white sugar which encourage candida growth.
6.Quit smoking, or at least brush your teeth or use mouthwash immediately after smoking to clean excess bacteria and toxins.
7.Strengthen your immune system so it can keep your body aligned with being healthy.
8.Use beneficial essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus and mint which are all anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial.
9.Take oil of oregano capsules.
10.Start the day with oil pulling. Add a tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil or sesame seed oil to your mouth and swirl around for 10-15 minutes. The oil will pull toxins to your mouth. Spit it out in the trash, gargle with lemon water and then brush your teeth thoroughly so no toxins are left in your mouth.
11.Gargle with salt water. Make sure the salt is Real Salt, sea salt or Himalayan salt.
12.Overload on greens, drink green juice, drink green smoothies, green vegetables and eat plenty of green salads with leafy greens.
13.Embrace fermented foods.
14.If you have dentures remove and clean them every night. Use soap or paste to clean before placing them in a provided denture cleaning solution.
15.Do visualizations - see your tongue clearing and the oral thrush completely leaving your body. Go there in your mind to have a better chance of going there in your body. This will help you to receive new intuitive answers as to how to approach treating your own individual oral thrush.
16.Gargle with diatomaceous earth, a ground up edible coral that cuts through candida like glass.
17.Gargle and then swallow bentonite clay daily. This will absorb the thrush.
18.Live a healthy wholesome lifestyle and know that you deserve great health.
19.Avoid foods and products that triggers irritation that include acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, coffee and sodas.
20.Chew mint leaves as they contain both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that relieves the pain as well as guarding the bumps against infections.
21. Focus on consuming anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and immune boosting foods and drinks.
22.Do a candida cleanse. Get rid of excess candida in the blood and digestive system as it is the root cause of oral thrush.
During a detox or cleanse be aware that your body may show signs of a metabolic reaction when candida and toxins are released. "Symptoms that may be experienced during a candida cleanse include impaired brain function, headache, fatigue, dizziness, bloating, gas, sweating, sinus infection, skin breakouts and flu-like symptoms. These signs will typically clear up within 7-10 days, and when the candida leaves your body, you will feel more energized and focused." Dr Axe.
To ease these symptoms during the cleanse period take long walks in nature and breathe in plenty of fresh air through your mouth. And also bathe in a hot Epsom salts bath for at least 20 minutes.
Majority of people to this condition are smokers, from both tobacco or marijuana. If you have oral thrush now and don't smoke, it might be due to your past history or smoking, or eating a lot of processed foods like breads and sugars.
Constant irritation of the mouth and tongue can lead to leukoplakia, which can show early signs of cancer. Thrush can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs, liver, and skin. This happens more often in people with cancer, HIV, or other conditions that weaken the immune system.
Oral Thrush can be gone from your body between 2 weeks to 12 months.