Oral candidiasis often affects smokers

Oral candidiasis causes concern with whitish spots on the gums,  painful sores on the tongue and persistent jams in the corners of the lips. Most often, these phenomena are observed in those who smoke or do not carefully monitor oral hygiene, as well as in those who use orthodontic appliances to align the dentition or correct the bite, wear dentures. Inflamed lesions usually require local treatment, but sometimes serious systemic therapy is required.

 

Activation of fungi of the genus Candida can occur in the oral cavity in children due to the immaturity of their mucous membrane, as well as in adults due to the following reasons:

• allergies, blood diseases, immunodeficiency conditions;
• pregnancy, hormonal disorders;
• high carbohydrate diet;
• long-term antibiotic use;
• vitamin C deficiency, group B;
• smoking.

Symptoms and characteristics of oral candidiasis

Foci of inflammation can be located on the mucous surfaces of the cheeks, palate, gums, on the tongue, in the corners of the mouth. A characteristic sign of oral candidiasis are whitish plaques with clear edges, tightly adjacent to the mucous membrane. If such a plaque is removed, an erymatous base will be found under it, and sometimes even erosion and ulceration.

Sometimes whitish plaques may be absent, but the patient complains of pain in the mouth, and when examining the oral cavity, there is severe erythema, atrophy of the mucous membranes.

Smokers often have hyperplastic plaques on the cheek or tongue. Which cannot be scraped off. Inflammation on the surface of the tongue is also associated with candidiasis, accompanied by pain and loss of sensation.

In patients wearing dentures, oral candidiasis is manifested by dark red erythema of the gums and hard palate, atrophy of the epithelium and edema. Jams in the corners of the lips are often associated with candidiasis of the oral cavity – the skin in these places turns red, cracks and causes severe pain.

 

Recommendations for the treatment of oral candidiasis

General therapeutic recommendations for oral candidiasis come down, first of all, to the elimination of predisposing factors – hygiene of dentures and orthodontic appliances, oral hygiene, abstinence from smoking or at least reducing the number of cigarettes smoked.

Oral candidiasis is treated with topical nystatin suspension and oral gel with ketoconazole. Lip sores are treated with topical antifungals.

If the disease is persistent, with severe painful manifestations, systemic antifungal agents are used. It should be remembered that their disadvantages are potential toxicity (ketoconazole) and the possible development of clinical resistance (fluconazole), as well as cross-interaction with other drugs.

Patients should be reminded to strengthen their immune system and avoid traumatic factors that can cause inflammation in the oral cavity and contribute to the development of candidiasis.