You may come down with a bacterial infection known as thrush, which is when a kind of fungus actually grows inside the mouth. Here's what you need to know about identifying symptoms of thrush, potential treatments, and tips to prevent it from happening to you.

Thrush Symptoms

Thrush can be easily identified by simply looking into your mouth. You'll notice that there are white patches or spots inside your mouth, found on the cheeks, gums, lips, and tongue. These spots won't wipe away, and can even bleed and cause ulcers to form.

Thrush Treatment

While thrush might look like a very scary oral health problem, know that it is a problem that can be easily treated. Your dentist may prescribe you a type of topical drug to apply to those white spots. This is a good option for toddlers since the liquid gets swished around in their mouth and is safe enough that it can be swallowed. In fact, swallowing the medication is recommended if the spots continue to the back of the throat.

If your young child has thrush, the doctor may recommend the topical medication for this very reason. Adult patients may be told to use special throat lozenges to help with treatment. These lozenges may not be recommended for small children, since they may accidentally swallow the entire lozenge before it can make an impact on the thrush.

Thrush Prevention

Many people get thrush due to poor oral hygiene. That's why it's important to stay on top of brushing two or more times per day. If you have a small child that you are concerned about, you must help them stay on top of brushing at a young age. They may not have their adult teeth, but brushing to prevent this type of disease is still important.

Adults can clean out their mouth with an over-the-counter antiseptic rinse, which can help kill bacteria in hard to reach places. If thrush is a recurring problem, you may be given an oral medication to help with prevention. You can also cut back on food that leads to bacteria formation in the mouth, such as foods with a lot of sugar in them. 

Thrush isn't a very dangerous oral health problem, but it does need prompt treatment. Ask a general dentist about what to do if you notice the symptoms of thrush in yourself or one of your family members. 

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