Thrush In Babies: Causes, Signs And Symptoms, and Home Remedies

What is oral thrush? What happens when babies get oral thrush? What causes oral thrush in babies? Are you stuck with these questions? Don’t stress out!! Relax because we have combined a comprehensive answer to all your questions.

Oral thrush in babies refers to an oral yeast infection that leads to white patches on the baby’s tongue which makes the feeding and sucking uncomfortable. It is very common in children and it can be treated further.

By the end of the article, you will have a fair share of knowledge about oral thrush in babies, what are the signs and symptoms for it and the reasons behind it. We will also focus on the home Remedies for oral thrush in babies that will help to get rid of thrush naturally.

What is Oral Thrush in Baby?

Oral thrush (R) in babies refers to an oral yeast infection that leads to white patches on the baby’s tongue making the feeding and sucking uncomfortable. It is very common in children.

The oral thrush in babies is caused due to yeast like fungus, Candida albicans. The thrush first appears in the mouth of the baby in the first few weeks of birth. It also appears in the diaper rashes of the newborn babies. In some cases, it is also seen on the nipples of breastfeeding mothers.

As per the studies, the most common fungal infection (R) in babies and children is thrush.

It is just a mild infection. It is also regarded as uncomfortable or even painful for your baby. Sometimes, it causes irritation in and around a baby’s mouth. Anyone can get thrush but mostly it occurs in newborn babies. It is most common in newborns and babies under 2 months.

[Read: Hand Foot And Mouth Diseases For Kids]

What Causes Oral Thrush in Babies?

There are certain reasons behind developing (R) oral thrush in babies such as the overgrowth of a type of yeast, Candida albicans. It is also caused due to weakened or underdeveloped immune systems in babies.

The Candida overgrowth is also caused due to diaper rash and vaginal yeast infections in babies. There are studies that prove that an oral thrush infection can happen after treatment with antibiotics. (R) This is due to the fact that antibiotics reduce the levels of healthy bacteria in the mouth in most the cases. They can also kill “good” bacteria, and allow the yeast to grow.

The hormonal changes can also lead to thrush in babies. The thrush can also be caused if the mother’s breast is not properly dried after feeding. This, as a result, leads to the growth of the yeast that causes the infection. Oral thrush also can happen after the use of steroid medicines.

As per the studies, mothers who have had a vaginal yeast infection while pregnant or during delivery have more chances of passing the infection to their baby (R) in the form of oral thrush.

The baby who uses pacifiers has an increased risk for oral thrush. It is also found that breastfeeding mothers who are anemic or diabetic have a higher risk of contracting a yeast infection that can result in oral thrush for their baby.

Signs & Symptoms of Thrush in Baby:

Here are some of the signs and symptoms of thrush in babies.

• white patches on the roof of the mouth that spread to the inside of the cheeks, and on the tongue
• There may be red tissue that bleeds easily under the white lesions
• Redness around the patches
• The patches may be painful
• the corners of the mouth may crack
• patches of white that look like milk
• Pain when you swallow
• The food gets stuck in the throat or in the middle of the chest
• Fever
• Poor weight gain
• Refusing the breast
• Fussiness at the breast
• Whitish sheen to their saliva.

How to Treat Thrush in Baby Mouth?

There are several natural ways that help get rid of oral thrush in the baby’s mouth. Some of the ways are –

1. Salt Water Rinse For Oral Thrush In Babies

The saltwater is rich in antiseptic, cleansing, and soothing properties. So, it regarded as one of the easiest and best home remedies for the thrush in a baby. This also helps to get rid of fungus and infections that lead to oral thrush. It also does have antifungal and antibacterial properties.

You Will Need

1. 1/2 teaspoon salt
2. 1 cup of water

What To Do

1. Mix the 1/2 tsp of salt in warm water.
2. After that take the solution to rinse your mouth.
3. Then spit out the salt solution.

How Often:

1. Do this thrice daily.

2. Coconut Oil for Oral Thrush in Babies

Coconut oil is one of the best and important home remedies for oral thrush in babies. The antifungal properties of coconut oil help in the elimination of the yeast from the mouth of the babies. It is also rich in antioxidant properties that help to boost the immunity that further accelerates in getting rid of the infection.

You Will Need:

1. 1 tablespoon coconut oil
2. Cotton ball

What To Do:

1. Take some coconut oil in cotton.
2. Switch the coconut oil in the mouth in every morning
3. Do it for 10 -15 times
4. Then wipe it with water.

How Often:

1. Do it every morning in an empty stomach.

3. Baking Soda For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Baking soda helps to treat oral thrush in babies. It helps a lot to kill the yeast infection that leads to oral thrush in babies as it is loaded with antiseptic properties.

As per the 2009 study, (R) the researchers found that the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate as a disinfectant of Candida albicans adhered to acrylic resin.

You Will Need:

1. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2. 1 glass of water

What To Do:

1. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of warm water.
2. After that, rinse throughout your mouth.
3. Spit out the rinse.
4. Do for 5-10 times.

How Often:

1. Do this 2-3 times in a day.

4. Yogurt For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Yogurt is known as “good bacteria” that help to treat oral thrush. This not only stops the oral thrush in babies but also stop the further growth of it. Yogurt helps to maintain a proper balance of good to bad bacteria in the mouth.

Yogurt also boosts the production of probiotics in the body.

You Will Need:

1. 1 teaspoon of Yogurt

What To Do:

1. Place a teaspoon of yogurt in the mouth.
2. Leave it inside for 5 minutes and
3. Then swallow

How Often:

1. Do it at least 3 times in a day.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best remedies for oral thrush in babies. It is also rich in anti-fungal properties. ACV helps to cure the fungal infection caused by oral thrush.

As per 2015 study, (R) it is believed that the apple cider vinegar

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It has beneficial antifungal properties that is a good alternative treatment option for people with denture stomatitis.

You Will Need:

1. 1 glass of water
2. 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3. Honey (optional)

What To Do:

1. Take 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water
2. Rinse throughout the mouth
3. Do this for 10-15 mins
4. Then spit out of the mixture

How Often:

1. Do it once or twice a day.

6. Vitamin C For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. This is amazing to increase the immunity of the body. It also helps in protecting the body against infection. It is rich in natural antioxidants and is also acidic.

You Will Need:

1. 1000 mg vitamin C capsules
2. Or include vitamin C rich in fruits and vegetables.

What To Do:

1. Consume vitamin rich food

How Often:

1. Take it twice a day.

7. Turmeric For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Turmeric is a powerful compound that is rich in anti-inflammatory abilities. This is one of the major effective remedies of oral thrushes in babies. As per the 2010 study, Curcumin has beneficial antifungal benefits against both Albicans and non-albicans species of Candida, especially when it is combined with piperine.

You Will Need:

1. 1 tsp of turmeric
2. 1 glass of water.
3. I glass of milk (optional)

What To Do:

1. Take 1/2 teaspoon turmeric paste with 1 cup of filtered water or milk
2. Switch the mixture in the mouth or drink it.

How Often:

1. Do it daily

8. Lemon Juice For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Lemon is rich in antifungal and antiseptic properties. It is also acidic which, as a result, helps in eliminating the fungus that causes oral thrush in babies. As per the 2009 study, (R) lemon juice was found to be an effective treatment for oral thrush.

You Will Need:

1. 1/2 lemon
2. 1 glass of water
3. Honey (optional)

What To Do:

1. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a glass of water.
2. Add honey if you wish
3. Drink the fluid

How Often:

1. Drink this once in a day.

9. Oregano Oil For Oral Thrush In Babies;

Oregano oil is regarded as one of the best remedies to treat a variety of ailments. It is known for its antifungal and antimicrobial properties. These two properties, it makes the best treatment for oral thrush.

As per the research, it was founded that oregano oil was effective against Candida albicans.

You Will Need

1. 3 to 6 drops of oregano oil
2. 1 glass of water

What To Do:

1. Mix a few drops of oregano oil in a glass of water and drink this solution.

How Often:

1. Do it twice in a day.

10. Peppermint Oil For Oral Thrush In Babies

Peppermint oil is a natural remedy for the ailments related to oral thrush in babies. It is rich in its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. It is regarded best to treat the Candida fungus that causes oral thrush.

You Will Need

1. 2 to 3 drops of peppermint oil
2. 1 glass of water

What To Do

1. Mix 2 to 3 drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water.
2. Use this as a mouthwash.
3. Do it for 10 -15 times
4. Then wash the mouth with plain water.

How Often

1. Do this 2 to 3 times a day.

11. Garlic for Oral Thrush In Babies:

Garlic is best known for its presence of allicin in it. Allicin is rich in powerful antifungal, antiviral, and antibiotic properties which helps to treat oral thrush. Garlic is also too good for health.

You Will Need:

1. 1 clove of raw garlic

What To Do

1. Take a clove of raw garlic and chew on it.
2. You can add at the dishes you wish.

How Often:

1. Include 1 to 2 times a day.

12. Aloe-Vera Juice For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Aloe Vera has too many benefits for skin and health. Its anti-fungal properties can help treat oral thrush in babies. It is the easiest and safest home remedies for the Oral Thrush In Babies.

You Will Need:

1. Aloe vera gel Or
2. Take two aloe- Vera leaves
3. 1 glass of water

What To Do:

1. Take some gel from the aloe vera plant and
2. Apply it to the tongue
3. For 10-15 minutes
4. Then wash the mouth
5. Exact the juice for it.
6. Drink aloe vera juice

How Often:

1. Do it once in a day.

13. Cranberry Juice For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Cranberry juice has a lot of effects on the benefits of the health of an individual. It helps to defend against viral infections by impairing the ability of viruses to adhere to the cell. The proanthocyanidins in cranberries exhibit anti-adherence properties that inhibit the adherence of the yeast that could be causing the condition.

You Will Need:

1. 1 cup of cranberry juice

What To Do

1. Drink a cup of cranberry juice daily.

How Often

1. Drink once or twice daily.

14. Mouth Wash For Oral Thrush In Babies:

The mouthwashes are simply the best to treat oral thrush as this is rich in anti-fungal chemicals which are great for the condition. It is a quick and effective remedy against the fungal infection that leads to oral thrush in children.

You Will Need:

1. mouthwash containing fluconazole or nystatin

What To Do:

1. Rinse the mouth with any mouthwash after every meal.

How Often:

1. Do it daily

15. Orange Juice For Oral Thrush In Babies:

Oranges are just like lemons. They are rich in vitamin C. The antioxidative properties of this help in boosting the overall immunity of the baby and even help in getting rid of the infection causing the condition.

You Will Need

1. 1 orange
2. 1 glass of water

What To Do

1. Peel one orange and blend it with a glass of water in a mixer.
2. Sip on this juice.

How Often

1. Do this once daily

How Long Does Thrush Last In Babies?

As I said above, thrush is common in children and babies. It gets better over the course of time and can be treated.

As per the studies and research, it usually resolves around within a month from its first appearance without any kind of particular treatment.

How To Prevent Thrush In Baby Mouth:

There are certain ways where we can prevent thrush in the baby’s mouth. Some of the ways are-

• The level of antibiotics should be limited or should be the last resort for both the baby and the mother. Before using it, refer to the pediatrician and don’t give the antibiotic to a baby unless it is that necessary or important. Just try to avoid antibiotics in order to prevent the transfer of the infection to the baby through breast milk.
• It is very important to maintain proper hygiene and sterilize the pacifiers and bottle nipples that you used for the babies. It can harbor bacteria as well as fungus which may harm the baby’s health. So it advised that after every use, you sterilize bottle nipples and pacifiers.
• Always try to keep the baby’s crotch and diaper area dry and for this, you have to change the diapers frequently. Make sure also you clean the genital area of the babies.
• Thrush is contagiousness and this can be spread from one individual to another. So, it is very important to keep the baby away from someone who is suffering from the condition.
• As I mentioned above, the baby should not be kissed or touched while they have thrush. Make sure the baby’s items like a pacifier or a bottle nipple are not used or touched by siblings who have thrush.

The oral thrush in babies is caused due to yeast like fungus, Candida albicans. The thrush first appears in the mouth of the baby in the first few weeks of birth. So, you have to be very careful at this particular stage. I hope the natural remedies that are mentioned in the article will help you a lot to get rid of oral thrush in babies.

FAQ’s:

1. Is Oral Thrush in Babies Contagious

Ans: Oral thrush is not contagious in the case of adults but it is true in case of babies. It easily gets transferred from one to another. It can spread through breastfeeding from infected nipples.

The baby should not be kissed or touched while they have thrush. Make sure the baby’s items like a pacifier or a bottle nipple are not used or touched by a sibling who has thrush.

2. Can Thrush go Away on Its Own in Babies Without Treatment?

Ans: Yes, it is absolutely true that the thrush can go away on its own, without treatment over the course of time in case of babies. But it is wise to consult a doctor if you suspect the baby has thrush for a prolonged time.

This will keep you on a safer side to lower or avoid risk. It is rightly said that the babies who have an underdeveloped immune system sometimes may not effectively deal with the fungal infection well.