How do medications treat oral thrush?

Oral thrush, a yeast infection caused by a fungus, is treated with antifungal drugs. Over 10-14 days, these medications kill the fungus. For best effect, swish the medication around in your mouth before swallowing it. Oral thrush affects babies and toddlers, the elderly, especially those wearing dentures, and smokers. People with weak immune systems, pregnant women, and those with uncontrolled diabetes, HIV infection, cancer, and dry mouth are more likely to get oral thrush. Medications such as birth control pills, corticosteroids, and antibiotics can increase your risk of developing oral thrush. The infection causes red or pink patches on your tongue and mouth but can spread to other parts of your body.

Controlling candidiasis, or oral thrash, means focusing on preventing or controlling the condition that causes the outbreak. If the cause is dry mouth, saliva substitutes and prescription medications may be helpful when the underlying cause of dry mouth is incurable or unavoidable.

Most often it occurs in people with weak immune systems -- the very young, elderly or those debilitated by disease, such as diabetes or leukemia. Your doctor can recommend medications you may be able to take that would not interfere with other medications you are currently on.