Other symptoms in adults include:
- cracks at the corners of your mouth
- not tasting things properly
- an unpleasant taste in your mouth
- pain inside your mouth (for example, a sore tongue or sore gums)
- difficulty eating and drinking
Oral thrush in adults is not contagious.
Babies
Babies with oral thrush may not want to feed.
Look at other causes of a white or sore tongue.
Oral thrush can be treated with a mouth gel bought from a pharmacy. The gel is suitable for adults, children and babies over the age of 4 months.
Ask your pharmacist for advice. Always follow the instructions on the medicine packet.
Oral thrush is not usually serious but sometimes you may need to get help from a GP.
See a GP if:
- your baby is under 4 months old and has signs of oral thrush
- you have oral thrush and do not see any improvement after 1 week of treatment with a mouth gel
- you have difficulty or pain when swallowing
- you have symptoms of thrush and have a weakened immune system or take medicine that lowers your immune system (immunosuppressants)
Oral thrush is an infection caused by a fungus called Candida. Some things can make the fungus grow more than usual.
You might get thrush if you:
- take antibiotics over a long time
- use asthma inhalers
- wear dentures
- are having cancer treatment like chemotherapy
- have a long-term condition such as diabetes or HIV
There are some things you can do to help prevent oral thrush.
Do
take care of your teeth – brush twice a day, clean your dentures and go for regular dental check-ups even if you have dentures
brush your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush if you do not have any teeth
rinse your mouth after eating or taking medicine
go to regular check-ups if you have a long-term condition
sterilise babies' dummies regularly and bottles after each use
replace teats and nipple shields weekly
wash bras and breast pads (if you're breastfeeding), bibs and muslin cloths on a hot wash
Don't
do not freeze breast milk to use later if your baby has oral thrush
do not wear dentures at night
do not keep wearing dentures if they do not fit properly – see your dentist
do not smoke
12 October 2026
