Oral thrush is a yeast (Candida) infection, and it has a few very characteristic visual signs in the mouth and on genital skin.

What oral thrush usually looks like

In the mouth (tongue, inner cheeks, gums, palate, back of throat), it typically appears as:

  • Creamy white or off‑white patches or spots that can merge into larger plaques.
  • A “cottage cheese” or curdled‑milk look to those patches.
  • Patches that may wipe or scrape off, sometimes leaving a red, sore, or slightly bleeding surface underneath.
  • Surrounding tissue that can look red, irritated, or inflamed, especially if the plaques have been rubbed.

Other visual/feeling clues in the mouth:

  • Corners of the lips can be red, cracked, and sore (angular cheilitis).
  • The tongue may look coated white or sometimes have a large smooth red patch in the middle in some variants.
  • Under dentures, the palate or gums can look uniformly red and inflamed rather than having discrete white spots.

You might imagine someone who has a thick, wipeable white film on their tongue and inner cheeks, with angry‑red skin underneath if you scrape a patch away—that’s a classic “picture” of oral thrush.

What vaginal thrush looks like

Vaginal/vulval thrush is also caused by Candida, but the appearance is more about discharge and redness than white plaques stuck to tissue:

  • A thick, white discharge that often looks like cottage cheese (clumpy, lumpy) rather than thin or clear.
  • The vulva and surrounding skin can look red, swollen, and irritated.
  • There may be small splits or cracks in the inflamed skin in severe cases.

Many people mainly notice intense itching or burning, plus the thick white discharge, rather than visually obvious spots inside the vagina.

Quick visual comparison table

[7][3][1] [3][1] [1][3] [3][1] [5][9] [9][5]
Location Typical look Other common signs
Oral thrush (mouth) Creamy white, cottage‑cheese‑like patches on tongue, inner cheeks, gums, or palate that may wipe off leaving red, sore areas. Redness, soreness when eating or swallowing, cracked corners of the mouth, “cottony” feeling in mouth.
Under dentures Red, inflamed areas under the denture base; sometimes less obvious white plaques. Burning or soreness where dentures sit.
Vaginal/vulval thrush Thick white discharge with a cottage‑cheese look; red, swollen vulval skin, sometimes small cracks. Itching or burning, pain with sex or urination, soreness.

When to get checked

See a doctor, dentist, or sexual health clinic urgently if:

  • The white patches are painful, spreading quickly, or bleeding easily.
  • You have trouble swallowing or feel like food is getting stuck.
  • You get repeated thrush infections (more than a few times a year).
  • You have conditions that affect your immune system, or are on chemo, steroids, or other immune‑suppressing medicines.

Thrush is treatable with antifungal medicines, but because other conditions (like leukoplakia, lichen planus, STIs, or eczema) can look similar, you should not self‑diagnose if you are unsure—getting an in‑person exam is the safest option.

Note: This is general information only and not a diagnosis; if you or a child might have thrush, especially with pain, fever, or repeated episodes, please see a healthcare professional for a proper exam.