Natural ways to get rid of oral thrush

Candidiasis or Thrush as it's commonly known is an infection with a yeast called candida. You can get it many in parts of the body, including the mouth, throat, gut and vagina. Fear not, you're not alone, it's extremely common and you can get natural remedies for thrush.

According to Bupa "Three-quarters of women will have it at some point in their lives. Up to one in 20 women has repeated (recurrent) thrush infections. You can get thrush at any age, but it’s most common in women who are in their 20s and 30s.

It may be unpleasant and uncomfortable, in many cases, yeast infections can be easily and successfully treated at home. This is done with either over-the-counter products or alternative therapies.

We speak to the experts to get their opinion on the best remedies, treatments, preventions and causes for thrush.

So, what is thrush?

Thrush is a very common yeast infection usually caused by ‘Candida’, a short-hand term for a group of fungi that lives harmlessly in the mouth, throat, gut and vagina. When there is an imbalance in the normal flora in these areas it can cause an overgrowth of this Candida leading to thrush, or medically referred to as ‘Candidiasis’.

This yeast lives naturally in the bowel and in small numbers in the vagina. It’s mostly harmless, but symptoms can develop if yeast numbers increase. About 75% of women will have vaginal thrush in their lifetime.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis include:

• Vaginal itching or soreness
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain or discomfort when urinating
• Abnormal vaginal discharge

The symptoms of oral thrush include:

• Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils
• Slightly raised lesions with a cottage cheese-like appearance
• Redness, burning or soreness that may be severe enough to cause difficulty eating or swallowing
• Slight bleeding if the lesions are rubbed or scraped
• Cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth
• A cottony feeling in your mouth
• Loss of taste

How do I get instant relief from thrush?

Topical creams are the way to go if you want instant relief from the irritation of thrush. Most creams, like Canesten, are available over-the-counter in your local pharmacy.

Canesten Thrush Combi 500mg Pessary and External Cream

canesten boots.com

£12.99

Can thrush clear up on its own?

Dr Hannah Davies advises that "mild cases can be self-resolving." However if you don't see any improvement within a week, speak to your GP who will be able to advise alternative medication and offer advice.

How do you get rid of thrush in 24-hours?

Dr Hannah Davies advises that "If you take an anti-fungal tablet and use an anti-fungal pessary, this will help clear up your symptoms very quickly." Using Clotrimazole cream which can be prescribed by your doctor or bought over the counter this will help soothe and also fight the infection. Davies also advises "to stay away from triggers such as: smoking, irritating underwear and sex."

Canesten oral thrush capsule 150mg

Canesten lloydspharmacy.com

£10.99

8 ways to treat thrush

Treating thrush isn't just about what you do, it's also about what you stop doing.

Stop using soap or perfumed shower and bath products around your genital area. Use water or non-perfumed moisturising cream instead – if you’re unsure what type to use, ask a pharmacist for advice. You could try washing with an emollient cream or ointment such as E45 on your skin outside your vagina too.

Now, before we get to the natural remedies, having spoken to the medical professionals we also have to suggest some more medicated treatments.

1. Anti-fungal treatments

These come in the form of creams or pessaries can be purchased over the counter to treat yeast infections. These are available without a prescription and are available to purchase online, or are found in supermarkets or pharmacies. Depending on the product, the treatment may be for external or internal use and treat the infection with:

• a single application
• a 3-day application
• a weeklong application

2. Oral Medication

When treating oral thrush the most effective treatment Dr Hannah Davies recommends is Nystatin mouthwash which can be bought online or over the counter. She advises to "use this four times a day and it should start to clear up"

Nystatin Oral Suspension

pharmacyonline.co.uk

£15.99

6 natural remedies to treat thrush

Some of these remedies use ingredients that you might already have in your home. Their effectiveness varies, and evidence for their success is mostly anecdotal.

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree oil might seem like a strange recommendation for treating thrush. Especially as perfumed oils and lotions can cause the infection. But tea tree oil is a naturally occurring product, unlike many shower gels and soaps that are not PH balanced.

Add a couple of drops to a hot bath, warm water is naturally soothing and will give short-term relief while the essential oils can help tackle the thrush infection. Davies advises that: "Tea tree oil has been shown in studies to help treat oral thrush, and has even show superiority to anti-fungal medications in one study."

Miaroma Tea Tree Pure Essential Oil 20ml

Miaroma hollandandbarrett.com

£12.50

2. Garlic

Fresh garlic extract has been known to have anti-fungal effects for many years, hence it’s possible role in treating thrush. Davies advises: "Studies have shown these anti-fungal effects, specifically against Candida (which causes thrush) when tested in the lab which is promising given the need for new treatments for thrush with emerging resistance to mainline treatments."

3. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is packed with antioxidants, natural fatty acids and is a natural soother. This home-remedy has been a popular choice to treat thrush for many years. To treat a yeast infection in the mouth, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and swish in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. Once the time is up, spit the coconut oil out. You shouldn’t eat or drink anything for the following 30 minutes.

4. Try Swapping Your Underwear For 100% Cotton Underwear

Yeast thrives in damp, warm environment so wet underwear may perpetuate the problem. Instead, many experts recommend wearing a natural fabric like cotton on a daily basis as it's breathable. Dr. Alyssa Dweck, a gynaecologist who has coauthored three books about feminine wellness and is a brand ambassador for Monistat, tells WH: “Breathability is key. Cotton absorbs moisture and allows evaporation"

5. Avoid Wearing Tight Fitting Clothing

Keeping in mind that yeast and bacteria thrive in warm moist environments, cotton is ideal, and synthetic fabrics including Lycra and nylon are not favoured. "Another tip is to get out of wet workout clothes as soon as able to prevent infection from brewing." Suggests Dr. Alyssa Dweck.

6. Probiotics

Dr. Hannah Davies shares that "there is evidence that these work - studies have shown probiotics reduce thrush and are generally considered to be beneficial for overall health." And goes onto explain "A review of probiotics in vaginal thrush showed probiotics in combination with anti-fungals sped up time to recovery, and there is some evidence probiotics can reduce relapse rate. Perhaps it is important to note that not all probiotics are made equally. The probiotic bacteria that has been investigated against thrush includes specific strains of lactobacillus and streptococcus."

So how does it work? Probiotics can produce chemicals to help fight of the yeast infection and prevents the yeast sticking to the lining of the vagina or mouth. They can prevent the growth of the yeast, and stimulate the immune system to fight the infection.

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