oral candidiasis

It is a fungal infection of the mouth caused by a bug called candida albicans. It is a normal oral commensal in 50% of the population

Predisposing factors:

Local

• dry mouth from drugs or radiotherapy
• antibiotics
• steroids eg asthma inhalers
• smoking
• dentures

Systemic

• diabetes especially poorly controlled
• old age and babies
• nutritional deficiencies eg: folic acid, viatmine B12, iron
• immune suppressing medications eg: steroids, chemotherapy medications
• immune deficiencies eg: HIV, hereditary

Management

• It is VITAL to consider above mentioned reasons and correct them
• rinse and gargle after the use of oral steroid inhalers
• simple yoghurt rinses which carries the alkaline medium to discourage the growth of the fungal organisms
• topical antifungals eg: nystatin suspensions/ pastilles or amphptericin lozanges
• micanazole gel can be applied to the fitting surface of the denture, keep the denture out at night and soak the dentures in milton`s solution
• oral antifungal medications eg: flucanazole for resistant cases