Thrush

Hi,

For the past two months I've had a greyish/white/coffee colored coating on my tounge and whitish upper lip that I've showed 3 docs and my dentist.  1 Doc said Thrush, two said Geographic tounge and finally my dentist said probably thrush who I saw just two days ago. My question is, if this really is thrush should I have been prescribed any medication?  I've read enough about thrush and got tested for HIV and std's all negative.  My upper lip looks like it's really dry, with a lick it's gone but if I stretch it gets noticablebly white and I know for a fact it didn't do that before.  Haven't taken antibiotics either.  Could I have caught it from someone?  How much longer will it last?  All my docs say I'm fine but doesn't the very precesence of thrush indicate my immune system is not working properly?  My main concern is the underlying cause of it.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

Thrush which is caused by candida albicans, is present in your mouth as part of the normal environment. At times the flora changes for any number of reasons. When that occurs thrush can devolop. Thrush is not contagious.If you have been checked medically then I think this will resolve. If it does not then a visit to an oral surgeon would be a good idea.