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What Can I Do To Prevent
Candidiasis?

Candidiasis is the scientific term for a yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida. Because Candida typically lives on and in the body in small amounts, candidiasis can affect just about any body part. However, it typically affects the mouth and vagina. When it affects the mouth, it is called “oral thrush.” When it affects the vagina, it is called a “vaginal yeast infection.” Both oral thrush and vaginal yeast infections can be highly uncomfortable and, in extreme circumstances, painful. The good news is that you can prevent the pain and discomfort by taking simple steps and making simple lifestyle changes that reduce your risk of developing both conditions.

Preventing Vaginal Yeast Infections

According to the data, as many as 75% of women will experience at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetimes. Of those 75%, 45% will experience reoccurring yeast infections. Whether or not you have had a yeast infection before, there are several things you can do to reduce your odds of developing a first time or reoccurring infection. Below are 12 of the most effective yeast infection prevention tips:

  1. Keep Things Clean. Wash your vagina regularly with mild, unscented soap. Do not overdo it, though, as you may unwittingly disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in and around the area.
  2. Wear breathable underwear. Breathable underwear are the best kind of underwear for vaginal health. Ideally, your underwear will be made of cotton, but any material that does not hold in moisture or heat is a good choice as well.
  3. Wear loose fitting garments. Tight fitting clothes tend to increase your body temperature and, therefore, the amount of moisture around your private parts. Increased heat and moisture create the perfect breeding grounds for candida. You can reduce the odds of candida multiplying by wearing loose-fitting jeans, underwear, pants, tights, pantyhose, skirts, dresses and the like.
  4. Do not douche. Though feminine hygiene products, such as douches, are touted as being beneficial, the truth is that they strip the vagina of all bacteria, including the good stuff. Good bacteria is necessary to fight off infections, such as candidiasis.
  5. Do not sit in wet clothes. Whether you go swimming or engage in an intense workout, change into dry clothes as soon as you are done with the activity. Sitting in wet or sweat-soaked clothes for too long can increase the likelihood that candida will multiply.
  6. Avoid extra hot baths and hot stubs. Hot, wet places are never your friends, especially if you are prone to yeast infections.
  7. Wipe from front to back. Wiping in this fashion helps prevent the spread of unfriendly bacteria from your anus to your vagina.
  8. Change pads, tampons and panty liners frequently. Most feminine hygiene products recommend that you change them every six hours, but if you are prone to yeast infections, you should change them more frequently.
  9. Manage your diabetes. Candida thrives when sugar is present, giving you just one more reason to keep your diabetes under control.
  10. Use antibiotics sparingly. Though antibiotics have their purpose, too much or too frequent use of them can kill any good bacteria in the body, leaving you exposed to infectious agents such as candida.
  11. Eat foods with active cultures in them, such as yogurt. Yogurt and other foods with live yeast cultures in them contribute to the good bacteria in your body, which helps fight the bad.
  12. Take probiotics. Probiotics help maintain the balance between good and bad bacteria. You can take a probiotic supplement, or you can consume foods rich in them, such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha and pickles.

By following these 12 tips, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing a first-time or reoccurring vaginal yeast infection.

Medical Conditions

How To Prevent Oral Thrush

Preventing oral thrush involves following many of the same tips for preventing a vaginal yeast infection, such as using antibiotics sparingly, managing your medical conditions, taking probiotics and eating foods with active yeast cultures. However, some more generalized tips are as follows:

  • Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush and floss twice daily, or more frequently if necessary.
  • Visit your dentist regularly. In a typical situation, you should visit the dentist twice yearly, every six months. However, if you have underlying medical conditions, chronic dental problems or are on certain medications, you may need to visit more frequently.
  • Avoid certain mouthwashes. Some of the more potent products destroy the balance of good and bad bacteria in the mouth, leaving it prone to infection.
  • Limit your intake of sugar and yeast-containing foods. Though yeast-containing foods are good for you in moderation, too much of them — such as beer, bread and wine — can encourage candida growth. So, too, can too much sugar.
  • Avoid smoking and tobacco products. Smoking and tobacco products can increase your risk for several infections and illnesses, including candidiasis.

Candidiasis is an uncomfortable and oftentimes painful condition. While you cannot eliminate your risk of either oral flush or a vaginal yeast infection entirely, you can reduce it significantly by following the above tips and lifestyle recommendations.

 
 
 

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