Oral Thrush Treatments - Symptoms, Causes & Prescription Medication

What is Oral Thrush?

Symptoms of oral thrush are usually harmless but can be uncomfortable. Oral thrush can be easily treated with antifungal prescription medications after completing a short online consultation with our prescribing service.

Oral thrush treatments work quickly to clear this common fungal infection, which is an overgrowth of Candida yeast in the mouth. Symptoms include white patches, redness and a sore or burning sensation in the mouth.

The white or creamy patches associated with oral thrush are often raised and have a cottage cheese-like appearance. They can be seen in the throat and throughout the mouth, including the roof, inner cheeks and on the tongue.

You can also experience an unpleasant or altered taste, discomfort when eating and swallowing, as well as cracked corners of the mouth.

What Causes Oral Thrush?

There are a few common triggers associated with developing an oral thrush infection. These include:

• Use of antibiotics
• Steroid medications (including use of asthma inhalers)
• Weakened immune system (particularly babies, older adults and those on chemotherapy)
• Poor oral hygiene (clean dentures, brush twice a day and rinse after medications)

You can take steps to prevent oral thrush by taking care of your oral hygiene and having regular check ups with your dentist. Try to avoid smoking and have regular check ups for long term conditions like diabetes.

Home remedies can be used for mild cases of oral thrush, such as saltwater rinses, baking soda rinses and probiotics. Avoiding sugary foods and drinks can help curb a candida infection as candida feeds on sugar.

Some of these may not be suitable depending on your general health and underlying health conditions. It’s always best to consult with a health professional before using these methods. Often prescription treatment for oral thrush is needed to clear an infection.

How Long Does Oral Thrush Treatment Take?

Once you start treatment for oral thrush, like Nystatin or Fluconazole, you can expect to see an improvement within 2-3 days. Generally oral thrush clears with treatment completely within 7-14 days. You must complete the course prescribed to prevent the infection from returning. The length of treatment will depend on the medication prescribed.

Can Oral Thrush come back?

Yes, if you do not complete the treatment course Oral Thrush will come back and not be eradicated.

Additionally, if you do not take care of your oral health, use steroid medications or have a weakened immune system you may experience new infections of oral thrush throughout your lifetime.

Do I need to see a GP or dentist to have oral thrush medication prescribed?

Not necessarily. If you have a weakened immune system, or difficulty swallowing it’s recommended you see a GP. For mild cases you may be eligible for a prescription to be acquired online via consultation.

What treatments are available for Oral Thrush?

There are several treatments available for oral thrush including capsules/tablets and suspension.

Nystatin vs. Fluconazole – What’s the difference?

Both are used as an antifungal treatment to treat oral thrush.

Nystatin for oral thrush is an oral suspension taken 4 times a day and fluconazole is taken in capsule form once a day.

Fluconazole may be more convenient to take once a day, but it has far more interactions with other medications recorded than Nystatin.

Nystatin doesn’t have interactions recorded but may be less convenient to take and administer as it requires multiple doses per day.

Below is more information about each treatment.

Nystatin Oral Suspension

Nystatin is an oral suspension to treat fungal and yeast infections of the mouth. It is a liquid that has a dropper marked with the dose to be taken to treat the infection. Nystatin usually starts to work after 2 days of use and you would generally take it 4 times a day after meals and before bed for 7-14 days

Side effects include diarrhoea and feeling or being sick. No known interactions are recorded with this medication, but let your prescriber know if you are taking other medications.

Fluconazole 50mg capsules

Fluconazole capsules are a capsule to treat thrush in men and women. To treat mild oral thrush, you would need to take one fluconazole 50mg capsule a day for a minimum of 7 days and up to 14 days. For more serious infections you would need to consult a GP.

Fluconazole for oral thrush is usually taken once a day. Common side effects include diarrhoea and nausea. You would need to practice precautions when taking other medications for mental health conditions, depression, other antibiotics, anticoagulants and statins.

Conclusion

Oral thrush can be uncomfortable, but with the right treatment, it is usually cleared quickly and effectively. Whether you are prescribed Nystatin or Fluconazole, completing the full course of antifungal medication is key to preventing the infection from returning. If you think you may have oral thrush, a short online consultation can help you access the most suitable oral thrush treatment without delay. Taking steps to maintain good oral hygiene and managing underlying health conditions will also reduce the risk of future infections.