Oral Thrush: Causes, Treatments, and What You Need to Know

When you see white patches in your mouth that won’t scrape off, it’s often oral thrush, a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans. Also known as candidiasis, it’s not just a baby problem—adults with weakened immune systems, diabetes, or those using inhalers or antibiotics get it too. This isn’t just discomfort; it can make eating painful, change how food tastes, and even spread if left unchecked.

Candida, a type of yeast that lives naturally in your mouth and gut keeps things balanced under normal conditions. But when antibiotics wipe out good bacteria, or steroids suppress your immune system, Candida takes over. People on inhaled corticosteroids for asthma or COPD are especially at risk—unless they rinse their mouth after using the inhaler. Same goes for denture wearers who don’t clean them properly. Even dry mouth from aging or certain meds can create the perfect environment for oral thrush to grow.

It’s not just about the patches. You might feel burning, soreness, or cracking at the corners of your lips. In severe cases, it spreads to the throat, making swallowing hard. The good news? It’s treatable. Antifungal treatments, like nystatin mouthwash or clotrimazole lozenges work fast for most people. But if you keep getting it back, there’s usually an underlying cause—like uncontrolled diabetes, HIV, or long-term steroid use. That’s when you need to dig deeper.

You’ll find posts here that break down exactly how these infections happen, which drugs can trigger them, and how to tell if what you’re seeing is thrush or something else. We cover what to do if your treatment doesn’t work, how to prevent recurrence, and why some people need stronger antifungals than others. You’ll also see how medications like antibiotics, inhalers, and even some acid reflux pills play a role. This isn’t guesswork—it’s based on real cases, clinical guidance, and what patients actually experience when they go to their doctor with a sore mouth and no answers.