Mouth Thrush Or Oral Yeast Infection

Mouth thrush is when the candida or yeast infection is located in the mouth. The infection looks like milk curds stuck on the gums which why it is often missed in infants. It looks very much like spit up milk.

The tongue will have white bumpy areas or patches with creamy looking white patches. It the patches are not easily scraped off with a spoon or finger. If the patch is removed it leaves behind a raw red spot.

Some people get yeast infections or thrush at the corners of their mouth. This can cause little cracks and cuts in the lips. This happens with people who constantly lick their lips, children who such their thumbs or people with conditions such that they drool. The moisture allows yeast to overgrow in the corners of the mouth.

Thrush in adults is a reason to look not only just at the infection itself, but also what might be causing the mouth infection. The healthcare provider may screen for diabetes, HIV or other conditions that can make it easier for thrush to grow on the body.

Since most of us have candida growing on and in our bodies thrush is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection (disease) by medical authorities. However someone who does have a yeast infection can pass along the thrush to his or her partner. This can happen during intercourse or oral sex.

Photos courtesy of Hardin MD/University of Iowa and CDC

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