Mild thrush can be treated with simple home remedies. For example, parents can cure mild thrush in children simply by wiping a child’s mouth with a clean, moist cloth. Patients of all ages with mild thrush may be able to cure the infection by consuming unflavored yogurt containing live cultures, which can restore the normal balance of bacterial flora in the body. Acidophilus capsules – found in many natural food stores and pharmacies – work as an alternative to yogurt.

Warm saltwater rinses (one-half teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water) can help treat thrush. Rinsing the mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water can also be effective. Mild cases of thrush may disappear within 24 to 48 hours of treatment.

Moderate to severe thrush can be treated with antifungal medications, which impede the growth of yeast. In older children and adults, mild cases of thrush can generally be cured with antifungal lozenges or mouthwashes. More severe infections typically require oral antifungal medication (in pill form), which should be taken anywhere from 10 days to two weeks.

All cases of thrush in nursing mothers and their children should be treated. Failure to adequately treat thrush may result in the mother and child repeatedly infecting and reinfecting each other during breastfeeding.

Infants are almost always treated with topical antifungals when medication is necessary. An antifungal cream may also be prescribed to treat any associated diaper rash. Treatments are typically given until 48 hours after the child’s symptoms disappear.

Several steps can be taken to make eating less painful while the patient waits for a thrush infection to subside. These include:

• Eating easy-to-swallow foods such as gelatin, ice cream and custard
  
  
• Drinking cold liquids and eating flavored ice or frozen juices
  
  
• Using a straw to consume liquids
  
  
• Rinsing the mouth several times a day with warm saltwater

Individuals with severely compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV or AIDS, may require even stronger medications. Individuals with recurrent thrush infections may notice diminished effectiveness of antifungal medications over time and should consult their physician if this occurs.

In some cases, thrush is treated by improving the immune system’s ability to function. For instance, many people with diabetes can cure thrush infections by controlling their glucose (blood sugar) levels.