Q: What is thrush?
A: Thrush is a condition in which white or grayish-white patches appear on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Those would be the tongue, lips, cheeks, gums and throat. The condition is the result of excessive growth of the fungus Candida albicans, which is normally present in the mouth.
Infants can develop thrush if they are exposed to bottle nipples that are not sterile or breast nipples that are infected. Thrush is more likely to occur in infants and the elderly, but it can develop in anyone with lowered resistance. And at any age the condition can develop as a side effect of antibiotics or any other medication that destroys normal oral bacteria. The patches associated with thrush look like curdled milk. When scraped off, they bleed and are painful.
Mild cases of thrush are likely to disappear without treatment. Severe cases may require topical application of an anti-fungal medication. Thrush is also known as candidiasis or moniliasis. Ask your dentist for more information about thrush.
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