It can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender - from infants through to older adults. It tends to appear more often in certain situations, such as after taking a course of antibiotics, when the immune system is lowered, in denture wearers, or when steroid inhalers aren’t properly rinsed after use.
Treatment is usually simple and involves antifungal medicines that are applied directly inside the mouth to target the infection. The most commonly used options are Daktarin oral gel and Nystatin oral suspension. Both work by staying in contact with the affected areas for a period of time, allowing them to act at the source of the infection. Although Daktarin oral gel has been unavailable in the UK for some time, Nystatin remains widely used and is considered an effective alternative.
Recovery can often be supported with a few simple habits as well - drinking plenty of water, keeping up good oral hygiene, and rinsing the mouth after using inhaled steroids can all help clear the infection faster and reduce the chance of it coming back.
