As the weather turns colder, many of us start sniffling and coughing. When you catch a cold or the flu, it can feel like the barrage of difficult symptoms puts your whole life on hold. As you reach for your trusty go-to cold treatment, you probably know what side effects to expect. However, do you know how it will impact your oral health? You could accidentally stain your teeth, increase your risk of cavities, and worsen gum disease as you treat your sickness! Here’s how you can keep both you and your teeth healthy this cold and flu season.
Keep Up Your Dental Routines
When you’re feeling achy and exhausted from being sick, it can be hard to do anything. However, it’s important that you do your best to keep up your great dental habits even when you’re not feeling well. Regular brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash can help clear out the extra bacteria in your mouth that could otherwise aggravate gum disease or cause tooth decay. Once you’re feeling better, it’s a good idea to throw out the toothbrush you’ve been using and get a new one to prevent reinfection. You can also schedule a regular checkup with your dentist for extra help in keeping your mouth clean and free of bacteria.
Choose Smile-Friendly Medicine
To make medicine more appealing, some products come in exciting flavors, including everything from cinnamon to watermelon. Unfortunately, many of these tastes come with a high amount of sugar. Drinking cough syrup and letting cough drops dissolve in your mouth coats your teeth in sugar, which the bacteria in your mouth feed off to create cavities. Don’t raise your chances of getting tooth decay when you’re sick and choose sugar-free options instead.
Watch What You Drink
No matter what kind of cold or flu you come down with, it’s always important to stay hydrated. Hot tea with a bit of honey is a tried and true remedy for a sore throat, and a glass of orange juice is brimming with immune-enhancing vitamin C. Unfortunately, these drinks are also highly acidic, which means the more you drink them, the more they weaken your enamel and discolor your teeth. The best way to enjoy these beverages while keeping your teeth safe is to minimize contact and drink them through a straw. It may seem silly at first, but your smile will thank you in the long run!
If you find yourself sick, don’t accidentally hurt your teeth as you treat your cold. Use these simple tips to protect your teeth as you get healthier.
About the Author
Oakbrook Dental & Orthodontics in McKinney, TX offers excellent preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry for the whole family. Our experienced team of dentists are trained in a variety of specialties to take care of all your dental needs under one roof. They are passionate about helping you get the beautiful teeth you deserve and protect your happy, healthy smile all year long. If you’d like more tips for keeping your teeth healthy this cold and flu season, they can be reached at their website or at (469) 526-4040.