When a normally pink mouth develops whitish lesions or a milky lining on the tongue and the inner cheeks, the culprit may be an oral yeast infection called thrush. While anyone can develop thrush mouth, breastfeeding infants of mothers with vaginal yeast infections are especially susceptible, as are people with reduced immunity. Natural cures focus on creating an environment in the mouth that is not conducive to the spread of thrush.
Acidophilus
The acidophilus in yogurt creates an environment in which the candida yeast fungus cannot thrive, and it may cure a case of thrush. Medline Plus, a division of the National Institutes of Health, also recommends taking acidophilus tablets, available over-the-counter in health food stores. Eat plain yogurt or yogurt flavored with a sugar substitute. Avoid yogurt sweetened with real sugar since yeast feeds on sugar in the body.
Diet
People who consume many sweets may develop thrush if their blood sugar levels are constantly high. Avoid sweets during a thrush infection and reduce your consumption of sweets to prevent a recurrence. Diabetics should consult their doctors about controlling blood sugar levels.
You may reduce your body's ability to host the yeast fungus by eating fresh garlic, advises the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine.
Herbal
Gale suggests grapefruit-seed extract and tea-tree oil in the treatment of thrush. Available from health food stores, take grapefruit seed extract in supplement form, as recommended on the package or by a certified herbalist. Add one or two drops of tea-tree oil to 1/2 cup of warm water and use it to rinse your mouth for one minute before spitting out.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets suggests that cinnamon may be beneficial in treating yeast overgrowth. Add it to toast or hot cereals as part of an anti-thrush diet.
Oral Hygiene
Medline recommends brushing your teeth frequently during the day with a soft toothbrush during an active thrush infection. Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between brushings.
The Mayo Clinic recommends rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 1 cup of warm water, stirring until it dissolves. Swish a mouthful of the saltwater and spit out. Repeat until you use the entire cupful. Do not swallow the saltwater.
Wait It Out
Medline advises that a mild case of thrush in an infant will usually disappear within a couple of weeks without any special treatment. If it doesn't, however, or if the infant cannot comfortably eat, consult your pediatrician.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Oral Thrush
- Medline Plus: Thrush
- Mayo Clinic: Home Remedies for Thrush
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2008
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 4"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
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