How exactly does oral thrush happen and who’s most at risk for getting this infection? Here we detail what you need to know about this oral health condition including the most at-risk people and its treatment.

What Causes Oral Thrush?

Candida is actually a type of fungus that normally doesn’t cause problems in the body [1].
However, certain factors can cause candida to become rampant, which can then cause issues such as infections.

There are numerous factors that can cause oral thrush, including prolonged antibiotic use, treatment for cancer via immunosuppressive therapy, and poor oral hygiene.

Oral thrush can cause infections in the mouth, throat, and even the esophagus. Oral thrush can present as white patches in the mouth, redness or tenderness in the mouth, loss of taste, and cracks at the corners of the mouth, which can be painful.

Who Is Most at Risk for Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is common in babies as their immune system isn’t fully developed yet and not able to ward off an overgrowth of candida [2]. Babies and people who have compromised immune systems are the most likely to get oral thrush.

Oral thrush is also common in people who are pregnant, those who smoke, people who
experience chronic stress, and others who have suppressed immune systems [3].

People who have dry mouth may also be more likely to get oral thrush, as are people who have dentures, especially if the dentures aren’t properly cleaned or removed as directed by your dentist.

How Oral Thrush Is Treated

Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medicines. This will usually be a liquid that you’ll either rinse out your mouth with or apply directly to your mouth. However, your doctor may also prescribe capsules you can take orally to help treat your thrush.

Treatment for oral thrush can last up to two weeks [4]. If you or your child has been diagnosed with oral thrush, be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions for healing so you can treat thrush right the first time and not have it return!

Are you concerned about your risk for oral thrush? You can talk more with your doctor or your child’s healthcare provider about oral thrush. Fortunately, the condition usually isn’t considered to be serious and is relatively simple to treat, provided you follow your doctor’s instructions!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/thrush/index.html
2. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/thrush.html
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/thrush/article.htm
4. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/oral-
thrush-in-adults

The post What Is Oral Thrush and Who Is at Risk for Getting It? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Tongue discoloration happens when papillae—the structures that give the tongue its texture on
the surface—become discolored. Discoloration of the tongue can happen for a variety of
reasons, and its treatment will depend on the cause.

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of tongue discoloration that you should know
about?

Symptoms of a Discolored Tongue

The most obvious sign of tongue discoloration is examining your tongue and noticing the odd
color. However, you may also have symptoms of tongue discoloration, which include a fever,
dehydration, or symptoms of oral thrush.

Oral thrush can cause white patches on the tongue and is usually accompanied by a burning
sensation, a bad taste—or in some cases, loss of taste—and even redness. If you’re prone to
mouth breathing, you may also be more susceptible to have a discolored tongue.

Causes of Tongue Discoloration

There are many potential causes of tongue discoloration. These include:

 Tobacco use. Smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to a heavily discolored tongue that
can be white or darker in color.
 Leukoplakia. This is a condition in which the cells in your mouth grow too much, which
can lead to a white tongue.
 Vitamin deficiency. A red tongue may be indicative of a vitamin B-12 deficiency or even
a folic acid deficiency.
 Scarlet fever. This type of fever can cause a reddish or strawberry-colored tongue.
 Certain medical conditions. People who are receiving chemotherapy, antibiotic
treatment, or have diabetes may be more susceptible to a black tongue.
 Poor oral hygiene. Not taking proper care of your teeth can cause black hairy tongue
due to cells not shedding normally which can lead to buildup of bacteria.

Depending on what’s causing your tongue discoloration, your doctor or dentist can help you
formulate a treatment plan.

Treatments That Can Help

You can receive treatment to help get your tongue back to normal. First, you’ll need to
determine the cause of your tongue discoloration with a dentist or doctor before you can begin
to evaluate your treatment options.

If you have an underlying medical condition that’s causing the discoloration—such as oral
thrush, scarlet fever, or a vitamin deficiency—you will need to address this problem first. In
addressing the cause, your tongue discoloration should go away on its own.

For people who smoke or have poor oral hygiene, these are habits that can be changed. You
can better your oral care habits and receive professional cleanings to help your tongue regain
its normal color, and quitting smoking is always an option.

If you have leukoplakia, a white tongue may go away on its own, although you should always
seek professional care as leukoplakia can be a predecessor to some diseases such as cancer.

Have you noticed that your tongue is discolored but aren’t sure why? In addition to evaluating
the above causes, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist. He or she can help
you properly determine the underlying cause of your tongue discoloration and work with you to
fully treat the problem!

The post Tongue Discoloration: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Effective tooth extraction aftercare can alleviate the pain, reduce the risk of complications, and ensure speedy recovery.
If you have been advised tooth extraction, the following four effective aftercare tips will help reduce the discomfort and the risk of the complications associated with it.

Always Keep Your Dentist in the Loop

Pain is fairly common after tooth extraction and lasts nearly a week to ten days. Keep your dentist informed about your post-extraction experience and unusual occurrences that are getting in the way of your normal life.
Though most symptoms following a tooth extraction subside within a week, it is important to watch out for unusual signs such as prolonged bleeding, fever, abnormal sense of touch, difficulty in chewing, allergies, bad taste in the mouth, or any sharp tooth fragments poking through the surgery site.

Take Care of the Blood Clot

Dry socket is one of the most painful complications of tooth extraction, which occurs when the blood clot at the extraction site fails to develop, dissolves, or dislodges. This blood clot serves as a protective layer for the underlying bone tissue and the adjoining nerves, thereby protecting the area from bacteria and food debris. Moreover, this clot is the foundation for the development of new tissue and bone at the site of extraction. Use the following tips to take good care of the blood clot, prevent dry socket, and accelerate the healing process.

Avoid Drinking Straws

The sucking movement caused by the cheek muscles when using a straw to have a drink may dislodge the clot, thereby leading to a dry socket. Hence, avoid using straws for nearly one week after the tooth extraction.

Maintain Pressure on the Gauze Pad

After the tooth extraction procedure is completed, the dentist will place a damp gauze pad at the site to protect the wound and encourage clotting. Lightly bite on this gauze pad at regular intervals until the bleeding reduces. This simple action can encourage clot formation.

Do Not Rinse Your Mouth for 48 hours

Though rinsing helps clean the mouth, this is not a good time to engage in forceful rinsing as it may dislodge the blood clot. Avoid rinsing or spitting vigorously for 24 hours after the tooth extraction procedure. After 24 hours, gentle rinsing with a saline solution or an anti-bacterial mouthwash prescribed by your dentist is advisable.

Stay Away from Cigarettes and Alcohol

Avoid smoking as it is a form of sucking, thereby increasing the risk of a dry socket and delayed recovery. Moreover, research has proven that the carcinogenic chemicals in the fumes hinder the healing process and increase the risk of infections. If quitting cigarettes is a challenge for you, talk to your dentist about when you can resume smoking or switch to nicotine patches.

Avoid mixing alcohol with medicines as it can dislodge or dissolve the blood clot and cause complex problems beyond your oral cavity, thereby retarding the healing process.

Take It Easy

Strenuous activities like bending, lifting, and exercising can result in increased bleeding, impeding the process of clot formation. Avoid rigorous activities for four to five days following the surgery.

Manage Pain Effectively

Once the anesthetic effect wears off, it is normal to feel some pain and uneasiness around the extraction site. The trick is to avoid waiting for the pain to worsen. In order to get the best pain relief possible, take the pain medications as prescribed by your dentist and don’t wait until the discomfort starts. If your prescription says that the pain medication is to be taken every four hours for the first 48 hours, adhere to it even if the pain hasn’t started or is bearable. Placing ice packs or cold towels on the outside of your face can help alleviate the pain and swelling immediately after the extraction.

Avoid taking pain medications on an empty stomach as it increases the risk of acidity, indigestion, and nausea. Though you may not feel like eating after a post a tooth extraction, make sure you consume some semi-solid food, such as applesauce, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and fruit yogurt to avoid drug-induced nausea.

Reduce the Risk of Infections

Any surgical procedure is accompanied by an increased risk of infection. Infection in the extraction site can lead to pain, bad taste in the mouth, and foul breath. Use the following tips to ensure quick and infection-free healing.

Complete the Antibiotics Dose

Your dentist will recommend an antibiotic regimen before or after the surgery in order to combat infections, if any. Make sure to follow the recommended dosage and complete the antibiotics course to prevent infection relapse.

Depending on the severity of the wound and your susceptibility to infections, the dentist may prescribe a seven-to-ten-day antibiotic course. Make sure you stock the antibiotics as per the prescriptions and adhere to the prescription at all times.

Also, the medications prescribed by your dentist may or may not be available in another state. Therefore, it is wise to carry your medications with you when traveling to work or out of town.

Pay Attention to Oral Hygiene

Proper hygiene is critical to prevent oral infections post tooth extraction. Check with your dentist on how you can maintain oral hygiene without causing damage to the surgery site.

Tooth extraction is, by no means, a pleasant experience; yet, by working with your dentist and following the aftercare instructions, you can alleviate the pain, reduce the risk of the associated complications, and promote rapid healing. Use the tips shared in this article to make your post-extraction healing process as comfortable as possible.

The post Tooth Extraction Aftercare: 4 Tips for Speedy Recovery appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The following conditions are ones that will likely require antibiotic prophylaxis before your dental procedure to minimize risk of this condition!

Artificial Heart Valve

If you have an artificial heart valve, your dentist will likely ask you to take antibiotics before your procedure. This is because endocarditis can happen if your heart has abnormal valves where the bacteria can attach themselves and proliferate in the heart.

You may have an artificial heart valve if you’ve had mitral valve disease, in which the valves of the heart do not work properly to allow adequate blood flow. Always inform your dentist if you have an artificial valve before receiving any type of treatment to reduce your risk of endocarditis.

Heart Transplant

If you’ve had a heart transplant, especially one that was the result of the problem with your heart valves, you’ll likely need antibiotic prophylaxis before your cleaning or extraction. Be sure to tell your dentist if you’ve had a heart transplant or even if you’ve had infective endocarditis previously. He or she can recommend the course of action that will ensure your safety during the procedure. You may have had a heart transplant if you have a heart defect, advanced heart disease, or heart failure. Infective endocarditis isn’t worth the risk to your heart—talk to your dentist about your heart transplant.

Heart Defects

Certain heart defects like congenital heart disease may require the use of antibiotics before a dental procedure. It’s important to disclose this information to your dentist to see if you qualify. The more your dentist knows, the more he or she can help you take the best care of yourself. Tell your dentist if you have any type of heart condition before receiving treatment, even a cleaning!

Joint Surgery or Replacement

Patients who have had previous joint surgery like a replacement of the joint or hip may need to take antibiotics before going to the dentist. This is because they’re more at risk to develop an infection in the replaced joint after their dental cleaning or other procedure. While this won’t apply to every patient, if you have doubts about whether or not you need antibiotics, ask your dentist!

Your dentist does the best he or she can to ensure you have a safe and effective procedure. Whether you’re getting a simple teeth cleaning or getting treatment for gum disease or a tooth extraction, talk to your dentist about whether or not you should receive antibiotics before the procedure. If you have any of the above conditions, you likely will need to!

The post When to Receive Antibiotics Before Dental Treatment appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Before the advent of antibiotics, dental infections were ranked as the number three cause of death. The infection “dissects” its way through what are called “potential spaces” between muscles, skin, tendons, and ligaments, and quickly reaches the brain, lungs, heart or a combination of these vital organs. When the cardiovascular system is attacked by infection, we say the patient is “septic”. As early as 1973, 96% of infections receiving hospital treatment with antibiotic therapy were susceptible to the Penicillin class of antibiotics. By the 1990’s 96% of hospital based infections were resistant to the penicillins, meaning that other antibiotics had to be used to treat infections. The resulting “suprainfections” occasionally are resistant to all known antibiotics. Every dental infection is life threatening. They can and do get out of control very quickly and should be attended to immediately.

Other symptoms of dental infection may include: sharp or dull pain in the gums, pressure and/or heat sensitivity with a tooth, swelling, exudate (pus), and bleeding in extreme cases.

Keep your immune system healthy, take antibiotics only when necessary, and seek dental or medical care early if you believe you have an infection.

The post Think You Have a Dental Infection? Seeking Dental or Medical Care May Save Your Life appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Medications for high blood pressure such as alpha or beta blockers and calcium channel blockers can all cause dry mouth. Some of these medications may also be used to help treat other conditions such as heart complications or even diabetes. These include medications such as Verelan, Tiazac, and Norvasc. Let your dentist know if you’re taking medication for high blood pressure or your heart!

Antidepressants or Antipsychotic Medications

These include medications that can help with depression as well as bipolar disorder or even schizophrenia. Dry mouth is a very typical symptom associated with antidepressants or antipsychotic medications. These include medications such as Abilify, Risperdal, and Seroquel. Some of these medications are also used to treat attention deficient disorder (ADD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as well.

Pain Medications

Pain medications are infamous for causing a dry mouth sensation! These medications have an antisecretory effect on the body, meaning that they reduce the secretion of normal body fluids such as saliva when taken. Pain medications may be taken regularly for chronic pain or only prescribed for certain temporary conditions or surgeries. Pain medications include codeine, Demerol, and Vicodin. These are only available through a prescription and should only be taken under the guidance of a physician.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines commonly help with seasonal allergy symptoms such as a runny nosy or itchy, watering eyes. You may also experience dry mouth while taking these medications. They’re commonly available over the counter but may also come as prescription. People may take these medications regularly or only during allergy seasons. Examples of antihistamines include Zyrtec, Benadryl, and Allegra.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for a variety of bacterial infections or illnesses and can also cause dry mouth. Not all antibiotics cause this side effect—the most notable ones are antibiotics for sinus infections, pneumonia, and ear infections. Such antibiotics include amoxicillin and Zmax. It’s always important to drink lots of water when taking a round of antibiotics. Sipping water can help you to replenish your saliva throughout the day!

There are over 400 medications that could cause you to have dry mouth—these are just a few! Could your medicine be one of them? Talk to your doctor or dentist about your medications, especially if you’re experiencing dry mouth or notice a decline in your oral health. You could need treatment to ensure your mouth will remain healthy while taking your medication!

The post Medications That May Be Impacting Your Oral Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.