Home Remedies for Oral Thrush

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Oral thrush also known as oral candidiasis is caused by the excessive overgrowth of Candida albicans in the lining of the mouth. The fungus Candida is always present in your mouth and normally, it is kept under control by other bacteria in our body. However, sometimes the balance might be disturbed by medication or illness, causing the harmful development of yeast. Oral thrush can be recognized as white patches on the inside of the mouth including the inner cheeks, throat, tongue, etc.

If you consult a doctor, you are probably prescribed with an antifungal medications. You may find the symptoms improved, but in the long run, such medications can have severe side effects such as liver damage or allergic reactions. Luckily, there are some natural ways to treat oral thrush without risking anything. Below are some home remedies you can do to eliminate the nuisance called oral thrush.

1. Coconut oil

If you are a keen practitioner of coconut oil, you might familiar with antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial effect it can make to our body. Coconut oil is packed with three active compounds called lauric, capric, and caprylic acid which are of great help in treating oral thrush. While caprylic acid can break down the cell membrane of yeast and block it from growth and spreading; a high content of lauric acid helps to boost immune system to combat yeast infection

You are recommended to apply coconut oil inside the mouth and allow it stay for as long as you can.

2. Yogurt

Yogurt and other cultured dairy products can add a great amount of probiotics which makes it inhabitable for fungus or harmful bacteria to grow and restores the balance of bacteria in no time. Plus, yogurt is renowned as a time-tested immune enhancer that contributes to defense against the yeast.  So if you are an oral thrush sufferer, you can start eating cultured dairy products like yogurt, butter milk 2 to 3 times a day. You may choose to directly apply yogurt on the tongue and inside your mouth and rinse thoroughly with warm water after 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Salt

Salt is probably the simplest yet the most effective remedies to treat oral thrush at home. The saline solution creates an inhospitable environment in your mouth and kills the fungus. It also soothes the infected area and relieves pain.

So simply dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and use it as a gargle. It is safe and harmless to rinse it several times a day until you feel the difference in your mouth.

5. Baking Soda

Baking soda is seemingly the king of home remedies for its multifunctional attributes. Apparently, sodium bicarbonate which is loaded in baking soda helps neutralize the pH level of the mouth, kill fungus while leaving friendly bacteria. All you have to do is to mix 2-3 spoons of baking soda with enough water to make a paste, apply it inside your mouth with a cotton ball, and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before thoroughly rinsing your mouth. For best results you can choose to repeat this actions several times a day.

6. Cinnamon

Cinnamon’s power to fight oral thrush comes from its powerful anti-parasitic and antifungal properties. These compounds are beneficial to control the overpopulation of yeast and minimize the effect of oral thrush.

7. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil serves up a high concentration of antifungal and antimicrobial properties, making it a remarkable remedy to fight against oral thrush. A compound called “arbutin” found abundantly in oregano oil also helps kill candida, the fungus that cause oral thrush and keep your mouth yeast-free. Oregano oil also improves our immune system.

You can choose either to apply the oil in the mouth or leave it 6-7 hours before rinsing thoroughly, or gargle your mouth with a mixture of 5-6 drops of oregano oil and a glass of water.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a versatile kitchen ingredient that contains a good amount of natural enzymes. These enzymes are of great importance in balancing pH level of the body at ideal state in which the body can shield up against yeast infection and prevent the overgrowth of Candida albicans. So you are recommended to rinse your mouth 4-5 times a day with a mixture of raw apple cider vinegar and a little bit of salt until the nuisance goes away.

9. Fermented Vegetables

Fermented vegetables are rich in lactic acid, later producing probiotic bacteria. As mentioned before, probiotics help strengthen the immune system and restore the balance of bacteria in the mouth and body. So if you are suffering from oral thrush, to start eating fermented vegetables in your daily diet is one step you might want to take.

10. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is one effective remedy to treat oral thrush. Its powerful antifungal properties help control the overgrowth of yeast, especially in your mouth. It is also a strong antioxidant which can be used to boost the body’s immune system and help to prevent yeast infections.

So gargle your mouth with a solution of 5 drops of tea oil and glass of warm water and spit out after 2 minutes, you will see the improvement in no time.

This article hopes to show you it’s viable to cure oral thrush with natural ingredients you are familiar with. So if you are an oral thrush sufferer, you can stop letting it lower your life quality and start trying these very simple yet effective remedies.

10. Good Oral and Denture Hygiene

As obvious as it sounds, a good oral hygiene is a must to prevent the overgrowth of yeast. Practicing consistent and thorough brushing and mouth washing, consulting dentist periodically are essential to combat oral thrush. To those who use dentures, the dentures should be taken out of the mouth and soaked vinegar because the plaque and sugars that build up on dentures can feed harmful bacteria into developing quickly.

Author Bio:

This article is written by Lyndsie Beresford – Senior Editor at Authority Remedies.

Lyndsie is the apprentice at Nutrition Society of Australia after finishing her bachelor degree of Human Nutrition at La Trobe University.

She is also pursuing her master degree of Food Science at University of Melbourne.

With the great passion for nutrition and healthy diet, her future is brighter than ever in becoming one of the finest nutritionists and dietitians.