Treatment

Since oral thrush is a viral infection, the treatment options are very limited and limited to symptomatic treatment. Mouth rot is not dangerous, but since it is accompanied by moderate to severe fever attacks and pain in the area of the oral mucosa, it may be useful to treat the symptoms. Ibuprofen in tablet form (or juice for children) and paracetamol in suppositories reduce fever.

In addition, these drugs have a pain-relieving effect in addition to their antipyretic effect. Furthermore, pain in the oral mucosa can be treated with gargle and rinse solutions. Painkillers that act locally on the mucous membrane in the form of anaesthetic gels and creams can provide relief.

The drug therapy can be supported with chilled chamomile tea, water and milk. In some cases the use of the antiviral drug Aciclovir can help to fight the virus, but this is not always useful. The decision should always be made by the treating physician.

These drugs are used to treat oral thrush

Since the classic clinical picture of gingivostomatitis herpetica is the result of an infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1, drugs are used to combat the viruses. This group of drugs is known as antivirals. The antivirals are only used when the patient’s immune system cannot fight the virus on its own.

Aciclovir is the classic antiviral for gingivostomatitis herpetica. An additional antibiotic is only used if there is evidence of a bacterial superinfection, i.e. an infection with bacteria in addition to the virus infection. In order to contain the accompanying symptoms, fever-reducing medication is still prescribed.

These include the classic pain reliever paracetamol. Depending on the patient group and the doctor’s instructions, the maximum dose should never be exceeded. If the pain is severe and persistent, stronger painkillers, including opioids, can be prescribed.

Furthermore, against the changes in the oral mucosa, a mouth rinse solution containing chlorhexidine digluconate in a concentration of 0.2% should be used twice a day. Due to its antibacterial and antiviral effect, chlorhexidine digluconate ensures faster elimination of the oral mucosa changes and faster regeneration of the oral flora. However, this application should not exceed a period of two weeks.

It is important that the patient tries to clean thoroughly despite the pain of oral hygiene, so that the symptoms do not get worse. After the “mouth rot” has subsided, the used toothbrush should be replaced with a new one. Furthermore, the patient must maintain strict bed rest and drink plenty of fluids during the disease.

As the swelling and redness of the oral mucosa makes food intake very painful, locally anaesthetically effective oral gels such as Dynexan or Xylocaine can be used to anaesthetize the oral cavity and thus make food intake more tolerable. There are numerous home remedies, all of which are suitable for the symptomatic treatment of oral thrush. To reduce fever, nettle tea should be drunk as a household remedy and regular calf wraps should be performed.

The painful mucous membrane lesions can be treated well with anti-inflammatory gargle solutions, such as chamomile solution. For this purpose, either chamomile tea or chamomileosan should be added to a glass of water and left to steep for 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, small sips should be kept in the mouth for 30-40 seconds each and rinsed.

The chamomile ensures that the oral mucosa regenerates faster and is also less painful. Antibiotics are only needed if it is proven that a bacterial infection is present. This occurs very rarely, which is why antibiotics are used only very rarely.

A smear of the oral mucosa is taken in the laboratory to identify the germ spectrum and the pathogens causing gingivostomatitis herpetica and then treated specifically.In addition to conventional medicine measures against mouth rot and home remedies, there are also some homeopathic approaches that can also help to reduce symptomatic symptoms of this disease. Belladonna, extracted from deadly nightshade, should be used against high fever. In homeopathic form it is taken as globules.

It should be taken several times a day for about 5-7 days. Initially, after taking homeopathic medication, there may be a slight initial worsening of the condition before there is an improvement. Furthermore, Borax and Lachesis are used in the symptomatic treatment of mouth rot.

Above all, they ensure healing of the mucous membrane defects in the mouth area and should lead to a reduction of pain. Other homeopathic medicines against oral thrush are: Acidum muriadicum and Lycopodium. Both preparations are used for general defects and inflammation in the mouth area.

The treatment with Schuessler salts, which is based on homeopathy, can also be used for mouth rot disease. When choosing the right Schuessler salt, great care should be taken in any case on the previous patient survey. So it is very important to ask about the beginning and duration of the disease and other accompanying symptoms.

If, in addition to the mucous membrane lesions and fever, other symptoms such as restlessness or insomnia occur, a different Schuessler salt can be used than if these symptoms are not present. In case of oral thrush, potassium phosphoricum is mainly used. Of this 3-6 tablets should be taken 3 times daily. The intake should take place over a period of about 1-2 weeks. If there is no improvement, the treatment period can be extended by one week.