Common location of yeast infection in the mouth

• On the tongue or inner cheeks.
• It can spread to the roof of your mouth, gums, and tonsils or the back of the throat.

Oral thrush can affect anyone but is more common in babies, the elderly, and in people with suppressed immune systems. For a generally healthy individual, an oral yeast infection is a minor problem, but can be more severe, however, in a person with a weakened immune system.

Oral thrush, or a yeast infection in the mouth, can occur when a disease or drugs such as prednisone weaken your immune system. Also, people on antibiotics may disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in the body, causing thrush.

If you have a suppressed immune system, oral thrush is more likely to spread to your digestive tract, lungs, liver, heart, etc. The infections can also spread to the intestines, making it difficult to receive adequate nutrition.

Other causes for oral thrush

• People who wear dentures and do not take them out when they sleep, don’t clean them properly, or have dentures that don’t fit well
• Using and inhaler that has not been properly cleaned
• Using mouth rinse excessively could destroy good bacteria that keep Candida at bay
• Steroid medication – long-term use
• Dry Mouth
• Diet
• Smoking