Assessment complete

Please select your Oral Thrush treatment from below to continue.

We currently have no oral thrush treatments at the moment

Please check back soon.

Overview

Buy oral thrush treatment online UK

If you want to buy oral thrush treatment online, buy it via our UK-registered online pharmacy i.e. Ashcroft Pharmacy. Just fill out our online consultation form and our pharmacists will evaluate whether you are eligible for this treatment.

Once approved, we will dispatch your order to your doorstep by our fast, discreet delivery process.

Diagnosis of oral thrush

Your doctor can diagnose oral thrush by:

  • ✅ Asking about the history of your symptoms

  • ✅ Examining your mouth for lesions 

  • ✅ Doing a biopsy of an affected area to confirm the diagnosis 

  • ✅ Examining mouth scraping under a microscope

  • ✅ Doing a throat swab culture or endoscopy to see whether fungal infection is limited to your mouth or spread to your throat, esophagus, or digestive tract  

  • ✅ Talking X-rays of your esophagus 

After these procedures or confirming the diagnosis of oral thrush, your doctor may ask you to get blood tests to evaluate the underlying condition that is causing the oral thrush

Best oral thrush treatment in UK

The goal of oral thrush treatment is to stop the growth of fungus. Oral thrush is easy to treat in adults and healthy children. It becomes harder to treat in people with a weak immune system. Its treatment options include:

Treatment for oral thrush in adults

The doctor prescribes antifungal medications in the form of ointment, lozenges, tablets, gels, or antifungal mouthwash for 7-14 days. These include:

Topical antifungals are used several times a day while tablets or capsules are taken once daily.

These medications usually do not have any side effects, but sometimes they cause mild effects in some people such as bloating, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. 

Some important tips

If you get thrush after taking antibiotics, eat yogurt or take OTC acidophilus pills to restore a healthy balance of germs in your mouth. 

Treatment for oral thrush in babies & nursing parents

The effective oral thrush treatment approach for babies and nursing parents includes:

  • ❇️ Treat your baby with antifungal medications, prescribed by your doctor.

  • ❇️ Apply antifungal cream to your breast. Wipe off the cream before nursing. 

  • ❇️ Keep your nipple dry and clean between feedings. If you use nursing pads, avoid them as they can trap moisture and offer favorable conditions for fungal growth.

  • ❇️ Sterilize your baby’s pacifiers, breast pump pieces, teething rings, bottle nipples, and any other item your baby puts in his/her mouth.

What is thrush?

Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans builds up in your mouth. Naturally, a small amount of candida, a yeast, lives in your mouth and digestive tract but sometimes it multiplies rapidly, causing symptoms of a yeast infection.

Usually, it causes creamy white patches or spots on the tongue or inner cheeks but sometimes, it may spread to the roof of the mouth, tonsils, gums, or back of your throat.

Candida or yeast is also linked to diaper rash and vaginal yeast infection in women. Oral thrush is harmless if you are healthy; however, if you have a weak immune system, it can become more serious and harder to control. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545282/ 

Is thrush contagious?

Oral thrush is not contagious in healthy adults but it can spread in certain situations such as by:

  • ✅ Kissing

  • ✅ Sharing items like toothbrushes 

  • ✅ Contacting with yeast infection in other body parts

  • ✅ Chestfeeding or breastfeeding when your baby has oral thrush

  • ✅ Chestfeeding or breastfeeding when you have a nipple yeast infection or breast yeast infection

  • ✅ Anal sex, vaginal sex, or oral sex

So, to avoid the risk of getting a thrush from another person, wash your hands every time when you make contact with someone’s items or utensils

Thrush in pregnancy

Mostly, women get thrush during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Increased levels of estrogen during pregnancy make the environment favorable for yeast growth.

Your doctor may prescribe you antifungal medications such as Nystatin drops or miconazole gel to treat oral thrush. If your symptoms persist, consult your doctor for personalized advice

What should I eat with an oral thrush?

You must eat probiotic foods or take probiotic supplements to limit the growth of Candida albicans. You should eat foods that support recovery and ease discomfort such as:

  • Non-acidic fruits such as pears and bananas
  • Cooked vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Lean proteins such as fish or chicken

Avoid alcohol, spicy or acidic foods, and sugary beverages as they can worsen your condition. Stay well hydrated and drink herbal teas to soothe irritation. However, more research on this area is needed. 

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00010/full 

Risk factors for oral thrush

Oral thrush is an opportunistic infection and certain factors enhance the risk of getting it such as:

  • ✅ Dry mouth (xerostomia)
  • ✅ Uncontrolled diabetes 
  • ✅ Cancer treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy

  • ✅ Anemia 
  • ✅ Cancer like leukemia
  • ✅ People having HIV/AIDs

  • ✅ Young children, babies under 1 month, and elderly people aged 65 or over

  • ✅ People with underlying health conditions such as underactive thyroid, iron deficiency, or vitamin B12 deficiency 

  • ✅ Taking certain medications such as immunosuppressants, antibiotics, diuretics, antihistamines, or corticosteroids 

  • Pregnancy 
  • Smoking
  • Ill-fitting dentures 
  • Suffering malnutrition 
  • Recently have an organ transplant 

These conditions weaken your immune system, disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in your body, and offer a favorable environment for the growth of Candida albicans. 

When to see a doctor?

You must visit your doctor if:

  • ❇️ You get any symptoms of oral thrush such as white patches or spots

  • ❇️ You are already taking antifungals but symptoms do not improve or recur

  • ❇️ You have thrush symptoms along with underlying medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, or others. 

Besides this, if your child has an oral thrush, you must seek medical help if:

  • ✅ Child is dehydrated
  • ✅ Have a dry mouth and dark urine

  • ✅ Have not urinated in more than 8 hours
  • ✅ Looking very sick
  • ✅ Have bleeding sores in the mouth

How to prevent oral thrush?

You can reduce the risk of oral thrush by considering the following points:

  • ❇️ Do not share utensils and cups with others 

  • ❇️ Practice good oral hygiene by flossing daily and brushing your teeth 2 times a day. Visit your dentist on a regular basis. 

  • ❇️ Eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet to support the functioning of your immune system. 

  • ❇️ If you have dentures, remove them before going to bed, clean them daily, and ensure they fit properly. 

  • ❇️ If you are using a corticosteroid inhaler, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after using it.

  • ❇️ If you have diabetes, ensure to manage your blood sugar levels effectively. 

  • ❇️ If you smoke, stop smoking. Avoid vaping or tobacco products. 

  • ❇️ Drink plenty of water and stay well-hydrated.

  • ❇️ Avoid sugar foods and foods that contain yeast. 

Takeaways 

Oral thrush is a fungal infection that affects your throat, mouth, and esophagus. It mostly affects babies but it can also affect adults.

Timely intervention with home remedies and antifungal medications can treat oral thrush within 1-2 weeks; however, if left untreated, thrush can spread to other parts of your body and cause serious complications

So, once you get any symptoms of oral thrush, consult your doctor immediately to avoid further effects.

 Author Bio
NameMr Suhail Jamil
RollSuperintendent Pharmacist
GPHc Number2069518
Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health/thrush

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/oral-thrush-in-adults/#:~:text=Oral

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353539

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10956-thrush

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/remedies-for-oral-thrush


https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/oral-thrush-mouth-thrush/

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/oral-thrush

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK367586/


https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/thrush-children-and-adults

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-is-thrush

Causes

What causes oral thrush in adults?

Oral thrush is caused by the overgrowth of Candida albicans, which is naturally a part of your microbiome. The reasons that disturb the balance of good and bad microbiome and cause this fungus to multiply rapidly may include:

  • Taking antibiotics for a long period or at a high dose.

  • Having poor oral hygiene
  • Smoking

  • Wearing dentures (false teeth) that do not fit well

  • Taking inhaled corticosteroid medicines for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)

  • Taking birth control pills
  • Having radiotherapy or chemotherapy to treat cancer

  • Having a dry mouth due to medications or medical conditions

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7912069/ 

 

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of oral thrush?

In the early stages, oral thrush (mouth thrush) is asymptomatic, making it difficult to identify. But when it becomes worse, it shows the following symptoms:

  • ✅ Oral thrush symptoms in adults

  • ✅ Soreness, redness, pain, or burning in the mouth

  • ✅ Bleeding from scraping spots

  • ✅ White or yellow spots on your tongue, gums, inner cheeks, tonsils, or lips 

  • ✅ Difficulty swallowing or drinking

  • ✅ Bad taste in your mouth

  • ✅ Cotton-like sensation in your mouth

  • ✅ Loss of sense of taste (ageusia)

  • ✅ Dry, cracked skin at the corners of your mouth

  • ✅ Irritation, redness, and pain under dentures

  • ✅ Median rhomboid glossitis (A large red, painless mark in the center of your tongue)

  • ✅ Linear gingival erythema (gum irritation or inflammation)

  • ✅ Plaque-like candidiasis (hyperplastic) that shows up as a solid, white plaque on your mouth and tongue that cannot be wiped off. It is not common and only affects people with HIV.

Sometimes, oral thrush can affect your esophagus called Candida esophagitis, and causes fever, painful swallowing, and a feeling that food is stuck in your throat or mid-chest area. Also, the same fungus that causes oral thrush can cause yeast infections in other parts of your body.

Symptoms in babies and breastfeeding mothers

About 65% of infants and 5-7% of babies under one month have oral thrush with the following symptoms such as:

✅ Difficulty feeding

✅ Irritability or fussiness 

✅ Sore mouth

✅ White coating on the tongue that looks like cottage cheese

Babies get this fungal infection from their birth parents during pregnancy, delivery, or nursing as infection can pass between the mother’s nipples and the baby’s mouth. 

Breastfeeding women with candida may have these symptoms such as:

✅ Stabbing pains deep within the breast

✅ Shiny or flaky skin on the circular, darker area around the nipples, called the areola

✅ Unusual red, sensitive, itchy, or cracked nipples

✅ Unusual pain during nursing 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545282/#article-30115.s12 

FAQ

  • Oral thrush home remedies: How to avoid thrush?


    Although oral thrush is treated with antifungal drugs, you can ease uncomfortable symptoms with home remedies such as:

    Maintain good oral hygiene: Brush regularly and replace your toothbrush more often unless that infection clears up.

    Try salt water: It contains cleansing, antiseptic, and soothing properties. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Swish in your mouth and spit it out.  

    Disinfect dentures: Ask your healthcare professional to determine the best way to disinfect your dentures to avoid irritation. 

    Use nursing pads: If you are breastfeeding and have a fungal infection, use pads without a plastic barrier to help prevent the fungus from spreading to your clothes. Wear a clean bra every day. 

    Use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate): Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Swish in your mouth and spit it out. It acts as a disinfectant for C. albicans.

    Eat yogurt: It stops the growth of fungus and restores the balance of good to bad microbiomes. Choose an unsweetened variety of yogurt and eat it multiple times a day. If you do not like yogurt, take probiotic supplements daily. 

    Clove oil: Steep 1 teaspoon of whole ground cloves in 1 cup boiling for 5 minutes. Strain it, swish it in your mouth, and spit it out.

    Other home remedies may include:

    • Mix the juice of half a lemon in warm or cold water. Drink it or use it to rinse your mouth. 

    • Mix a few drops of oregano oil in 1 cup of water. Oregano oil has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Swish the solution in your mouth and spit it out. 

    • Mix ½ turmeric (containing anti-inflammatory properties) with water or milk, add a pinch of black pepper, and heat it. Swish in your mouth before drinking. 

    • Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water. Swish the solution in your mouth for 15 seconds and spit it out.

  • What is the fastest way to get rid of oral thrush?/Can I treat oral thrush on my own?

    You can treat oral thrush on your own and get rid of it quickly by using antifungal medications such as fluconazole, clotrimazole, or nystatin. Also, avoid sugary foods, maintain good oral hygiene, and rinse your mouth with baking soda or salt solution to alleviate symptoms.

  • What mouthwash kills thrush?


    Nystatin antifungal mouthwash is effective against oral thrush, caused by Candida fungi. Swish it in the mouth for several seconds and swallow or spit it out as directed by the doctor.  

  • What is the best antifungal for oral thrush?


    The best treatment for oral thrush is fluconazole, clotrimazole lozenges, and nystatin mouthwash for mild cases. For severe cases, stronger antifungals such as itraconazole or amphotericin B are the best. 

  • Can a pharmacist diagnose oral thrush in the UK?

    Pharmacists can diagnose oral thrush in the UK by recognizing its symptoms and can provide advice and OTC treatment. However, they cannot confirm the diagnosis, only a doctor or dentist can offer a formal diagnosis. 

  • What drink kills thrush?

    Drinks with antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties such as unsweetened cranberry juice or diluted apple cider vinegar (with water) can combat thrush.

    Probiotic-rich drinks such as sugar-free yogurt smoothies or kefir can restore healthy bacteria. Avoid sugary beverages as they can worsen the oral thrush. 

  • What fruit is best for thrush?

    Fruits with low sugar content and antifungal properties such as lemons, berries, and coconut are the best. Avoid high-sugar fruits such as grapes and bananas as they can feed the yeast.

  • Can oral thrush be cured permanently?

    Oral thrush can be cured permanently with proper treatment such as by using antifungal medications like nystatin or fluconazole. Prevent recurrence by maintaining good oral hygiene and managing underlying medical conditions. 

  • How long does oral thrush last?/How long does oral thrush treatment take?

    Oral thrush lasts for 7-14 days with proper treatment such as fluconazole or nystatin. Without treatment, it may persist for months or even years, especially in people with weakened immune systems. 

  • What is the over-the-counter oral thrush treatment?

    Over-the-counter oral thrush treatment includes antifungal lozenges, gels, and mouthwashes. The medications may include fluconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, or nystatin.

    Probiotic supplements may also help you manage symptoms. If the infection persists, consult your doctor for better advice. 

Nystan (Nystatin) Oral Suspension - 30ml

Medication Ashcroft Pharmacy
100,000units/ml x1 x 30ml bottle £12.99
Order now
100,000units/ml x2 x 30ml bottle £24.99
Order now