Table of contents:
- Causes of thrush in the throat
- Symptoms of thrush in the throat
- How to quickly treat thrush in the throat
- 1. Gargle with salt water
- 2. Drink cold water
- 3. Avoid certain foods
- 4. Gargle with mouthwash
- 5. Take pain relievers
- 6. Corticosteroid drugs
- When to see a doctor
Many people have experienced canker sores in their life. This condition can appear anywhere in the mouth, even in the throat. Thrush that appears around the throat may make it difficult for you to eat and speak.
So, why can canker sores appear in the throat and what are the factors that can cause it? Then how do you treat it so that it doesn't interfere with your activities? Come on, let's learn more about this oral health condition in the following review.
Causes of thrush in the throat
Although the exact cause is not known, experts believe that there are many factors that can trigger the appearance of sores in the throat.
Several factors make you more at risk of developing mouth sores in the throat, including:
- Eating foods that are too spicy or acidic
- Have had a minor mouth injury due to dental work or a hard blow to the throat
- Use of mouthwash and toothpaste that contain irritants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate
- Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause
- Are experiencing emotional stress
- Have a viral or bacterial infection
- Deficiencies in certain nutrients, especially iron, zinc, folate, and vitamin B12
- Bacterial infection helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers
This condition can also be triggered if you have certain medical conditions, such as anemia or other blood disorders. Diseases related to the digestive system, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can also be a contributing factor to thrush in the throat.
Apart from that, children, the elderly, cancer chemotherapy patients, and people with HIV / AIDS are also more susceptible to thrush because their immune system is weaker than healthy people.
Symptoms of thrush in the throat
Quoted from the American Academy of Oral Medicine, thrush is one of the most common types of mouth sores found and felt by many people. Canker sores are small and circular in shape, usually experienced in soft tissues in the mouth, such as the tongue, cheeks, lips, and even the throat.
In general, the symptoms of thrush in the throat are almost similar to strep throat (pharyngitis) or inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis). The difference is, you can see a small sore in the throat when you stick your tongue forward.
Canker sores are usually round or oval in shape with reddish edges. The center of the wound may be whitish or yellowish in color. Use a flashlight or other light source so that you can more clearly see the canker sores in your throat.
Before the sores appear, you may feel a tingling or burning sensation in the throat for 1-2 days.
Basically, wherever it occurs, be it canker sores on the tongue, lips, cheeks, or throat can cause excruciating pain. In fact, this can make you lazy to eat or just talk. The pain also tends to be more intense when you eat foods or drinks that are sour or spicy.
How to quickly treat thrush in the throat
Although they can cause irregular pain, thrush is not a contagious disease. This condition can also be treated with home remedies, for example with sprue medication from natural ingredients. A number of over-the-counter medical drugs at the pharmacy can also help you speed up the healing process.
Here are various easy ways you can do to treat canker sores in the throat.
1. Gargle with salt water
Gargling salt water is one of the easiest and quickest ways to treat sore throat at home.
Various studies report that salt can help relieve inflammation and pain in the injured area. Not only that, the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of salt are also effective in preventing the wound from getting worse.
So that you get better quickly, dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Then gargle in your throat for about 1-2 minutes. After that, throw away the water from the burial. Remember, don't swallow the water from the burial, huh!
2. Drink cold water
You can relieve throat discomfort by drinking cold water. This one method is fairly effective at reducing swelling due to thrush in the throat.
First of all, prepare a glass of cold water. Then drink cold water little by little and slowly. Hold the water in the throat and let it sit for a few seconds. You can rinse your mouth with cold water several times or until the pain subsides.
3. Avoid certain foods
Foods that are too sour, spicy, and hot can make canker sores in the throat not heal. Therefore, during thrush, make sure you avoid these various types of food.
You are also advised to eat soft and soft foods. Avoid eating foods that are hard and sharp, such as chips, crackers, or fried foods.
Instead of healing quickly, eating these foods can make canker sores get bigger. Make sure you are wise in choosing the foods you eat every day.
4. Gargle with mouthwash
Gargling with mouthwash can also be one way to treat thrush in the throat. On the market, mouthwash products are available with various brands, flavors, colors, and functions. However, make sure you avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol and irritants.
You can choose products that contain hydrogen peroxide, benzocaine, and fluocinonide. These various ingredients can help relieve pain as well as speed up recovery.
5. Take pain relievers
If you can't stand the pain of thrush, taking pain relievers can be the right solution. Pain relievers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can be purchased at pharmacies without having to redeem a doctor's prescription. This drug is also safe to drink by all ages, including children.
However, before taking the medicine, make sure you read carefully the rules of use listed on the product packaging. Make sure the dosage you are taking is as recommended. Don't hesitate to ask a doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand the rules of use.
6. Corticosteroid drugs
You can also relieve tingling around the wound by taking corticosteroid medications purchased at the pharmacy or the nearest drugstore. Corticosteroid drugs can fight inflammation and relieve pain.
One type of corticosteroid drug that is commonly found is prednisone. Corticosteroid drugs for thrush are usually available in the form of mouthwash or oral medicine.
When to see a doctor
As previously mentioned, there are many factors that cause canker sores in the throat. Starting from simple things that can actually be prevented to more serious medical conditions.
That is why, go to a doctor immediately if you experience a number of symptoms, such as:
- High fever
- The pain does not go away even though you have taken pain relievers
- The sores in the mouth are getting bigger and spreading to other parts
- The sores in the mouth did not heal even though it had been more than two weeks
In principle, immediately check with a doctor if you feel something strange about your body. Remember, only yourself can measure the intensity of pain in your body. So, don't wait too badly to see a doctor.
Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose of medication or recommend certain medical procedures. Antibiotics may be prescribed if your thrush is caused by a bacterial infection. Meanwhile, if the cause of thrush is a virus, the doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs.
In certain cases, your doctor may also recommend certain medical procedures to treat thrush in the throat.