Dental Flashcards
what is adult oral thrush
-non contagious fungal infection of the mouth caused by group of yeasts called ‘candida’
-opportunistic infection , meaning its germs that don’t usually cause disease but become pathogenic in people with weakened immune systems
what is candida
it is a group of yeasts that come in 3 forms: yeast, pseudohyphae, hyphae.
-they naturally occur in the oral cavity and digestive system
-when there’s a chnage in envionrment, it causes the candida to multiply and cause infection in the mouth, throat etc.
what are risk factors of having thrush (oral related condition)
-those that are immunocompromised, e.g. diabetic, HIV, steroid users
-poor mouth care
-smokers
-malnutrition
-antibiotics, by killing good bacteria
symptoms of thrush/ pseudomembranous thrush
-Discomfort on eating
-bad taste
-white patches
-creamy, white plaques with red oral mucosa (inflammation). usually in the cheeks
how to manage pseudomembranous thrush
-improve oral hydgine
-rinse mouth after using steroid/inhaler
-stop smoking
treatment for pseudomembraneous thrush
-topical antifungals e.g. miconazole
-systemic antifungals ( antifungal medications used when the infection has spread internally) e.g. fluconzaole (severe infection)
what’s denture stomatitis (chronic atrophic candidosis)
-inflammation and redness in the mouth, commonly under the dentures
symptoms of denture stomatitis
-discomfort when eating
-bad taste
-creamy white plaques with red oral mucosa. plaques wipe off leaving raw under surface
what is the management of denture stomatitis
-remove dentures at night
-cleanse thoroughly before and after placement
-reduce sugar intake
-soak the fitting surface in hypochlorite cleanser
-new dentures may be required if measures fail despite compliance
what is the treatment for denture stomatitis
-miconazole gel or nystatin (antifungal medicine). Add to fitting surface of denture before insertion
-systemic fluconazole in severe cases
