How to Prevent Oral Thrush from an Inhaler

For many people, inhalers are part of their everyday life. If you live with asthma or another respiratory condition, using your inhaler regularly helps you breathe. You probably know how to take care of your inhaler. But what about your mouth?

Certain inhalers contain corticosteroids. These are anti-inflammatory medications that help reduce swelling in the lungs. When small amounts of this medicine stay in the mouth, they can increase the risk of oral thrush—also called oral candidiasis. Oral thrush is a yeast infection. It happens when Candida, which is a type of yeast that normally lives in small amounts in the mouth, grows out of balance.

Symptoms of oral thrush can include:

• Unpleasant taste
• Loss of taste
• A burning sensation
• Redness or soreness
• White patches on the tongue or cheeks

If you notice these signs, contact your dentist right away. When caught early, oral thrush is usually quick and easy to treat. And don’t worry, it’s not contagious.

How Does Using an Inhaler Lead to Oral Thrush?

Your inhaler delivers medication directly into your lungs through your mouth. While we’d all like to think that the medicine goes exactly where it’s needed, that’s not always the case. If you don’t inhale deeply enough or use a spacer when recommended, some of the medication can stay in your mouth. That leftover medication can build up on your tongue, inside your cheeks or even between your teeth.

4 Ways to Prevent Oral Thrush from an Inhaler

When that medication lingers in your mouth, it can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and yeast. The good news is that preventing your inhaler is pretty easy:

Rinse your mouth after using an inhaler

This simple action of sipping water after you use your inhaler can significantly decrease your risk of developing oral thrush. Simply rinse with water and spit it out. This helps flush away any remaining medication and clear out residue left behind. Plus, water stimulates saliva, which naturally helps protect your teeth and maintain a healthy balance in your mouth.

Consider a spacer

A spacer is an attachment for your inhaler that helps deliver the medication more effectively. First, spacers improve hand-breath coordination. If you’ve ever had trouble inhaling deeply enough or holding your breath long enough, spacer can make that easier.

Second, it reduces the amount of medicine that settles in your mouth. Less medication left behind means a lower risk of developing oral thrush.

Brush and floss regularly

Did you know the best way to keep food and leftover medication from hanging around longer than it should? Surprise! It’s brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once per day. It’s one of the simplest ways to remove plaque and any leftover medication after using your inhaler.

Visit your dentist

A trip to the dentist is about more than X-rays and a cleaning. Your dentist can check for signs of oral thrush and other changes in your mouth. During a routine exam, they look closely at your gums, tongue and soft tissues to make sure everything looks healthy.

Regular visits to your dentist can help them become familiar with what’s happening inside your mouth.

Need to find a dentist? Use our search tool to connect with a provider near you.

The Bottom Line

Using an inhaler shouldn’t come with surprises for your oral health. The good news? Preventing oral thrush is straightforward. A quick rinse, good brushing and flossing habits and the right inhaler technique can go a long way in keeping your mouth healthy.

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