Anti Oral Thrush Hygiene

While just about anybody can develop oral thrush, there are some people who have an increased risk of developing the condition. If you fall into one of those categories it is good to know that simply ensuring that you use good oral hygiene at all times can vastly reduce the chance that you will ever develop oral thrush.

Some of the people who are “at risk” of getting oral thrush include: bottle fed infants, diabetics, cancer patients, HIV patients, people who wear dentures or have braces and asthmatics.

Generally the aim of oral hygiene is to prevent the build up of plaque on the teeth, but there is more to it than that. Having good dental hygiene means that you will also be preventing the proliferation of bacteria and other micro organisms in the mouth. Oral thrush is caused by a yeast micro organism known as Candida albicans. This yeast loves to feed on sugar, so any traces of sugar left in your mouth as a result of food and drink are going to facilitate its growth.

Following a dental hygiene routine religiously is one of the most effective ways that you can prevent developing oral thrush. It will also prevent many painful and costly dental problems in the future too. After every meal you should either brush or rinse your mouth out with water. Keeping hydrated is also an important step as dry mouth can facilitate the growth of oral thrush – make sure you are drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. It is also important to eat a balanced and healthy diet and cut out as much sugar as you can (remember oral thrush causing Candida loves sugar). Every six months make an appointment with your dentist for a check up to remove plaque and have a general clean.

On a daily basis there are several steps that you should include in your oral hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day is essential and using floss can get at the areas where your toothbrush can’t. Although mouthwash is often recommended as a part of oral hygiene, if you are in an “at risk” group, you should stay away from commercial mouthwashes, and consider a natural mouth wash / toothpaste.

If you maintain good oral hygiene standards, then you can drastically reduce your chances of ever developing oral thrush and having to deal with the unpleasant condition.