Can smoking cause thrush?
On One Hand: Smoking Is a Risk FactorSmoking is not the cause of thrush, a yeast infection that causes mouth and/or tongue lesions, as the underlying cause is a fungus called candida. However, smoking is one of the risk factors associated with thrush, meaning that smokers are more likely to develop this infection, according to the Mayo Clinic.On the Other: Other Risk FactorsSmoking is one risk factor that contributes to thrush. Others include infancy, HIV/AIDS or other health problems or treatments that weaken the immune system (such as chemotherapy), dentures, diabetes, anemia, dry mouth, using antibiotics, and diseases that affect the endocrine system, according to the Mayo Clinic and HIV InSite.Bottom LineSmoking increases a person’s chances of developing oral thrush, but many other risk factors are in the mix.
