Symptoms

Thrush in men, or oral yeast male infection, usually comes on rather suddenly but may last for quite a while. Symptoms include:

• Raised lesions in the mouth on the tongue or the inside of the cheek. Sometimes they also show up on the gums, the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, or in the back of the throat. These lesions are usually white, yellow, or creamy white and look like cottage cheese, or may be said to be curd-like. Sometimes they're painful and may bleed if scraped, exposing a red, sore spot underneath.
• If not treated, the lesions may get into the esophagus, the tube through which food is swallowed. If this happens, there may be pain when swallowing or perhaps just difficulty in swallowing.
• Men may feel like their mouth, throat, or the corners of their mouth are sore.
• Men with oral thrush may feel like food is getting stuck in their throat or in the middle of their chest.
• Eating may become difficult and feel uncomfortable.
• If thrush, or the oral male yeast infection, spreads further than the esophagus it's possible that a fever might develop.

Causes

Oral thrush is caused by Candida albicans, or a type of yeast that's always present in the body. In fact, half of the population has this yeast in their mouths. In most of these people, bacteria in the mouth keep the yeast population down. But sometimes Candida albicans gets out of control.  Oral thrush is common in men who:

• Have diabetes. Diabetes not only compromises the immune system but people with diabetes have high blood sugar. Sugar is a favorite food of yeast.
• Who wear dentures. Dentures which don't fit well can damage the gums, cheeks and other mucus membranes in the mouth, giving Candida albicans a good place to grow. Candida albicans also loves warm, moist areas of the body and dentures provide just such an environment.
• Use of antibiotics. When the bacteria which inhibit the growth of yeast are killed, yeast may grow out of control.
• Use inhaled corticosteroids for asthma. Mouth rinsing and brushing of the teeth after the use of an inhaler often helps to keep thrush at bay, although these medications still make men who use them prone to thrush infections.
• Having oral sex with a partner who has a yeast infection.

Thrush, oral yeast male infection, can spread throughout the body to organs such as the liver, lungs, and skin. However, this kind of widespread yeast infection is more likely to happen to men (or women) who have compromised immune systems from other diseases such as diabetes, which has already been mentioned, as well as cancer, HIV, severe asthma, or any other situation that might cause a man to be "run-down."