Oral candidiasis

Oral candidiasis, also known as oral thrush among other names, is candidiasis that occurs in the mucous membrane of the mouth. It  is a fungal infection that causes irritation and creamy white lesion over the oral cavity.

Oral candidiasis, also known as oral thrush among other names, is candidiasis that occurs in the mucous membrane of the mouth. It  is a fungal infection that causes irritation and creamy white lesion over the oral cavity.

• Creamy white lesions on your tongue, inner cheeks, and sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils.
• Redness, burning or soreness that may be severe enough to cause difficulty eating or swallowing
• Slight bleeding if the lesions are rubbed or scraped
• Cracking and redness at the corners of your mouth
• Loss of taste
• Redness, irritation and pain under dentures (denture stomatitis)
• Secondary symptoms - Infection 

According to Ayurveda, agni is the biological, digestive fire of the body which is responsible for all the digestive processes that take place in our body. Oral candidiasis is caused due to the agnimandya (low digestive fire) which results in the production of Ama or endotoxins that becomes lodged in the alimentary canal and migrates throughout the body. This will result in weakened immunity and the person is more prone to candida infection.

Candida albicans infection.

Predisposing factors -

• Eating food in indigestion or when the previous meal isn't digested
• Incompatible food
• Eating in stress
• Taking food at irregular time 

This will weaken the digestive fire and leads to weakened immunity.

• Untreated diabetes(also leads to weakened immunity)
• Dry mouth with poor oral hygiene

Treatment protocol aims at:

1. Giving relief from candidial lesions and treating pain and soreness occurred due to candida overgrowth.
2. Boost overall immunity of the body and make the body able to fight against candida infection.
3. Regular intake of supplements can help in long term relief and maintaining overall health.

The first line of treatment should always be avoiding the causative factors. If the problem persists then consider the following treatment protocol.

• Candida species cause oral thrush when a patient's host immunity becomes disrupted. This disruption can lead to overgrowth of the fungus then leads to the formation of a white, membrane like plaques. They are difficult to remove and affect the oral mucosa, tongue, hard and soft palates. It is usually painless, associated with a loss of taste and angular cheilitis (cracking of the skin at the corner of the patient's mouth)
• White lesions can be treated with Gandhaka rasayan, Triphala guggulu, and Vidanga  This will help to increase the digestive fire and remove toxins and also help to reduce pain and inflammation. Sariva, Manjistha helps to reduce the  redness and burning sores through blood purification
• The plaques after scraping - inflamed, painful lesions often remain that may bleed.
• Yasthimadhu - arrest the bleeding by healing and repairing the mucosal membrane,

All these herbs help to boost immunity and prevent further attack.

 (The above mentioned Ayurvedic drugs are Herbs and Herbomineral preparations)

Other Therapies: Gandusha (holding medicated liquid in the mouth ), Virechana/Purgation therapy (cleaning digestive tract and purifying blood).

Gandhaka Rasayana, Triphala Guggulu,  Vidanga, Sariva, Manjistha, Yasthimadhu