Depending on the severity of your infection, your age, your health, and the type of treatment you’re getting, a typical thrush healing time may range from a week to almost a month.
Nystatin gel/drops
Probably the most common treatment is to apply an anti-fungal gel (such as miconazole) or anti-fungal drops (nystatin). Regardless of which one you choose, you’ll have to apply it four times a day over the infected regions. The typical length of such treatments is five to seven days.
Fluconazole pills
Another way to treat oral thrush is taking pills. Most doctors will generally recommend this type of treatment if the condition persists after the use of nystatin or miconazole. Anti-fungal tablets contain a compound called fluconazole. You’ll usually have to take them for a week, but some severe cases may ask for longer cures of up to two weeks.
Home remedies
Some essential oils have been shown to kill candida albicans and lower the spread of thrush. The most commonly-used is coconut oil. You’ll have to apply extra-virgin coconut oil on the affected areas with a cotton swab, usually 2-4 times a day, until you’re happy with the results. Generally, the infection clears away completely after a couple of weeks.
Another great home remedy is salt. Add one tablespoon of salt to one cup of water and use the mixture to gargle thoroughly. Repeat a few times a day for several days, until the symptoms are gone.
Other home remedies include yogurt, baking soda and apple cider vinegar. They’re all applied locally, and yogurt and apple cider vinegar may also be consumed, either alone or mixed with other ingredients. Again, the healing time ranges from two weeks to a month.
Healing time for breastfeeding mothers
It’s not uncommon for breastfeeding mothers to get thrush on their nipples from their babies.
If that’s your case, you should know that you’ll need to treat your baby, too. If you don’t do that, you’ll end up infecting and re-infecting each other, which will increase the healing time considerably.
The most commonly prescribed medications for thrush on nipples are topically-applied solutions such as Nystatin drops or Canesten, or pills such as Diflucan (fluconazole). Other ointments may also be effective, such as Monistat 7, Lotrimin AF, or Micatin.
If you’re using gels or drops, make sure you apply the medication smoothly over your nipple and areola. You usually have to repeat the applications four times a day, allowing it enough exposure time. This means you’re best advised to do so immediately after breastfeeding, after you’ve cleaned the are thoroughly. You’ll also want to wash your nipples before breastfeeding, too.
If followed correctly, the infection should clear off after about a week, sometimes a bit more.
Conclusion
Thrush healing time depends on a number of factors. However, most infections go away after two to four weeks. If your infection lasts more than that, or if your experience repeated bouts of thrush, you may want to consult your doctor for further investigations.
Resources
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Oral-thrush—adults/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-thrush
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/oral_thrush/page4_em.htm#how_is_oral_thrush_treated
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-oral-thrush.html