7 Powerful Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Oral Thrush
Oral thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans in the mouth (sometimes called Candida overgrowth). It can affect anyone, but infants, older adults, and those with weaker immune systems are most at risk.
Symptoms of oral thrush include white lesions on the tongue and inner cheeks, redness, and pain or discomfort.
While antifungal medications are typically prescribed for oral thrush, natural remedies can also alleviate symptoms and help restore balance.
Today, we’ll learn about various natural treatments that can provide relief from oral thrush, and how improving gut health with probiotics can help alleviate symptoms.
Key Takeaways
- Oral thrush often results from an imbalance in your body’s natural flora, making probiotics and good bacteria crucial for preventing overgrowth.
- By replenishing good bacteria, probiotics restore gut and oral health, helping to prevent future Candida overgrowth.
- Maintaining good oral hygiene practices like brushing, flossing, and cleaning dentures is vital for preventing recurrence.
Do You Have Oral Thrush?
Do you get white, cottage cheese-like patches on your tongue or inner cheeks, experience redness, or feel pain when you eat or swallow food or liquids? They could be signs that you have oral thrush. Other symptoms include a dry mouth, loss of taste, or a cotton-like sensation.
Even though it’s much more common in people with weaker immunity, virtually anyone can get oral thrush, especially if they’ve been using antibiotics or steroid inhalers. Proper diagnosis and early treatment are essential to prevent the condition from worsening.
What Causes Oral Thrush?
You can get oral thrush if your natural flora is imbalanced. This imbalance can be caused by antibiotics that kill good bacteria, allowing Candida albicans to overgrow. Poor oral hygiene, smoking, and consuming a high-sugar diet can also create an environment where Candida thrives.
Natural Remedies for Alleviating Symptoms
While medications are helpful in treating oral thrush, there are also natural remedies that can provide additional relief and support the body’s recovery.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (commonly referred to as ACV) is a popular home remedy for oral thrush. How does it help? Apple cider vinegar has antifungal properties that make it effective against fungal overgrowth. Its ability to balance the pH in your mouth can also help slow the growth of Candida.
To take apple cider vinegar for oral thrush, simply dilute one teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. Swish it in your mouth for 15 seconds, and spit it out. Just make sure to dilute it thoroughly to avoid irritation.
Baking Soda
Baking soda helps to neutralize acidity in the mouth, creating an environment where Candida struggles to grow. It’s a simple yet effective natural remedy.
To use baking soda to reduce your oral thrush symptoms, dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water and rinse your mouth with the mixture, then spit it out. Repeat this process a few times daily to help reduce symptoms.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is known for its many health benefits, including as an effective antifungal oil. It contains two fatty acids - caprylic and lauric acid - that are potent antifungal agents.
Oil pulling—swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10 minutes—can help combat Candida, reduce inflammation, and promote overall oral health.
Swishing a liquid in your mouth is a gentle and natural option to complement conventional treatments for oral thrush. You can also take antifungal supplements blended with pure caprylic acid, like our Balance ONE CandAssist.
Probiotics and Gut Health: A Key to Recovery
Probiotics play a crucial role in restoring balance, both in the mouth and gut, which can help to prevent oral thrush. Candida overgrowth is often linked to an imbalance in gut flora, which explains why addressing gut health gives you long-term protection from oral thrush.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria that help restore this balance by increasing the population of "good" bacteria that outcompete harmful organisms like Candida.
The connection between gut health and oral health cannot be overstated—research shows imbalances or disruptions in your gut microbiome lead to an increased risk of oral thrush.
When you invest in long term gut health, you’re preventing future fungal overgrowth and making sure your body maintains the balance necessary to keep Candida in check.
How Probiotics Work for Oral Thrush
Probiotics work by occupying space in your body that harmful microorganisms would otherwise take over.
The math is pretty simple: If you have a lot of good bacteria in your gut or mouth, they will outnumber the Candida yeast that cause oral thrush. They also strengthen the immune system, which is vital in fighting off recurring thrush.
Whether through diet or supplements, incorporating probiotics into your daily routine is a proactive way to prevent and manage oral thrush.
Probiotics to Counter Antibiotics Side Effects
Oral thrush is often triggered by antibiotics, and this is an area in which probiotic supplementation is even more helpful. Antibiotics, while effective at treating infections, wipe out both good and bad bacteria, leaving the body vulnerable to yeast overgrowth.
Introducing probiotic supplements like Balance ONE probiotic during and after antibiotic treatment helps to replenish the beneficial bacteria and restore healthy gut balance. Studies show taking probiotics regularly can significantly reduce the recurrence of Candida infections, both in the mouth and elsewhere in the body.
The synergy between gut and oral health means that probiotics offer more than just temporary relief from oral thrush; they also support your body's natural defense systems.
Over time, a consistent intake of probiotics can enhance immune function, improve digestion, and help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the body.
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene definitely matters if you want to reduce your risk of oral thrush. The basics are easy enough:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day
- Flossing daily
- Cleaning your tongue
Some add an extra layer of oral thrush protection by using a xylitol mouthwash.
If you use prescribed inhalers, rinse your mouth after each use to reduce the risk of fungal buildup. Properly fitting dentures and regular dental checkups are also key to preventing the recurrence of thrush.
Dietary Adjustments
A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates can feed Candida, allowing it to multiply. To support recovery, focus on whole foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Eat more green leafy vegetables, fermented foods, and lean proteins to support your immune system and promote gut health. Reducing overall sugar intake and consumption of processed foods is critical to preventing future infections. You can also follow an easy Candida cleanse diet if you want to pursue a diet-based treatment.
Foods to Support Recovery
Already have oral thrush? Add foods that help fight fungal growth, like garlic, coconut oil, and cinnamon. Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut provide beneficial probiotics that support a healthy gut, which in turn, helps maintain oral health. As mentioned earlier, avoid foods high in sugar, as these can exacerbate fungal growth and delay recovery.
Takeaway
Oral thrush can be uncomfortable, but with a combination of antifungal treatments, probiotics, and natural remedies like apple cider vinegar and coconut oil, it can be effectively managed.
By maintaining good oral hygiene, making dietary adjustments, and supporting your gut health with probiotics and antifungals, you can not only relieve symptoms but also prevent future infections.
The 3-Month Candida Elimination Kit
The Candida Elimination Kit contains everything you need to complete a 3-month Candida Cleanse, restoring balance to your gut and fighting yeast overgrowth.
Plus, we've included the Candida Diet recipe ebook, which contains more than 50 recipes that are perfect for a Candida diet.
Here's what's included in the kit:
- 3 bottles of Liver One [a 3 month supply]
- 2 bottles of Probiotic [a 4 month supply]
- 3 bottles of CandAssist [a 3 month supply]
- The Candida Diet recipe ebook
- The Candida Elimination Kit User Guide
The kit includes Liver One to support your liver and reduce Candida symptoms, CandAssist to fight the Candida yeast, and our Probiotic to rebalance the bacteria in your gut.
Here are a few key reasons why the 3-Month Candida Elimination Kit is so effective:
- Liver support from milk thistle extract and artichoke leaf extract to reduce Candida symptoms.
- Natural, antifungal ingredients like caprylic acid, berberine, and NAC to fight the Candida overgrowth.
- A probiotic that uses delayed-release tablets to rebalance your gut.
- A 3-4 month supply of all these supplements.
- All supplements are non-GMO and vegan. They're also free of nuts, dairy, gluten, and soy.
- A free recipe ebook with more than 50 recipes.
- A free user guide on how to take the supplements :)
