Oral thrush can appear as a white coating on your tongue or as cracking at the corners of your mouth and lesions inside your mouth that can bleed easily. Thrush is a type of yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans -- a bacteria that normally lives harmlessly in your mouth and digestive tract. But if something disrupts the balance of bacteria in your body, candida can flourish. Beneficial bacteria, especially acidophilus, can help keep candida in check, treat your thrush and prevent future outbreaks.
Candida Albicans
Candida is a yeast-like bacteria that lives in and on your body -- thriving in moist environments such as your mouth. It's normally kept in check by beneficial bacteria, also called probiotic bacteria. Lactobacillus acidophilus is a specific type of probiotic that helps control candida. If you get sick, take antibiotics or eat a diet too high in sugar, Candida can flourish, reproducing quickly and resulting in a yeast infection. Thrush, athlete's foot, diaper rash, jock itch, vaginal yeast infections and some external skin rashes are caused by a Candida overgrowth.
Acidophilus
There are more than 1,000 types of micro-organisms living in your body, about half of them in your digestive tract -- which starts in your mouth. Acidophilus is a live microbe, part of Lactobacillus family that is naturally found in fermented dairy products. The natural sugar in dairy foods -- lactose -- provides food for these beneficial bacteria to survive. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating unsweetened yogurt or taking acidophilus supplements to treat thrush but notes that probiotics won't kill the fungus -- they simply restore the natural balance of micro-organisms, halting the growth of Candida.
Dosage
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, eating 8 oz. of unsweetened yogurt containing live acidophilus daily will help control the Candida causing your yeast infection. If taking supplements, look for one containing at least 1 to 2 billion live cells. If your Candida overgrowth was caused by taking antibiotics -- which can harm beneficial bacteria as well as harmful ones -- avoid taking probiotics at the same time as your antibiotic. Wait at least two hours after taking your antibiotic before ingesting your acidophilus.
Conclusion
Restoring the balance of good bacteria will help prevent future yeast issues, but if your thrush is persistent, you may need an anti-fungal medication. Chronic yeast overgrowths can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition -- such as diabetes or a weakened immune system. People with uncontrolled diabetes and chronic high blood sugar are at a particular risk for thrush because excess glucose in your saliva feeds the Candida -- which thrive on sugar. See your doctor if your thrush persists or you experience other types of Candida infections.
