How does one acquire Oral thrush: As we know it caused by a fungus which is a commensal in the oral cavity, the primary reason is decrease in immunity. Some of the secondary reasons are use of long term use of Antibiotics, Uncontrolled Diabetes, Smokers, patients undergoing chemotherapy, under nutrition, AIDS, some people wearing dentures which do not fit properly have a continuous presence of a bleeding lesion or ulcer in the mucous membrane which acts as the site of entry of the commensal into the mucous membrane to cause the disease.

Types of Candidiasis:

Pseudomembranous cadidiasis: Represented as white lesions when wiped away by gauze leaves an erythematous area.

Chronic atrophic Candidiasis: Most commonly seen as an erythematous area under a maxillary denture and most commonly associated with poor health. It is also known as “Angular chelitis”
Sites Of Appearance: Commonly present on Tongue, soft palate, inner parts of cheeks, and all the parts of oral cavity lined by mucous membrane like gums, back of the mouth, oesophagus.

Candidiasis is also seen as Systemic infection when these colonies of bacteria enter into the stomach and the circulating system.

Symptoms (or) the clinical features: There is appearance of small white or slightly yellow spots, raised slightly above the surface of the mucous membrane they affect, they are normally painless in babies but in adults there is a burning sensation and when they are removed by scrapping they leave a bleeding lesion on the surface where they were present earlier.

Coping with the Symptoms: Thrush can make the mouth so sensitive that it is impossible to perform regular oral hygiene. So Use of a very soft toothbrush is very helpful. It can often help to rinse the mouth with a diluted solution of 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide.