If you are suffering from a cold or the flu, the last thing you are probably worried about is brushing your teeth. However, even when you are not feeling well it’s important to take care of your oral health in order to protect your teeth from tooth decay, as they are often more susceptible during an illness. Your Glastonbury dentist offers a few helpful tips on how to protect your oral health during cold and flu season.
Consistent Brushing and Flossing
Continue to brush and floss your teeth consistently even if you’re under the weather. When you are feeling better, remember to replace your toothbrush or brush head on your electric brush so you don’t reinfect yourself.
Practice Swishing and Spitting
If you are suffering from a stomach virus that causes you to vomit, it’s a good idea to swish and rinse your mouth with water afterwards to clear your mouth of the acids from your stomach. While you may want to brush your teeth right away, it is better to wait for about thirty minutes in order to avoid spreading the acids around on your teeth.
Choose Sugar Free
If you are relying on cough drops to relieve a sore throat, be sure they are of the sugar free variety. Otherwise, it’s like sucking on candy and it can cause the tooth decay and the same damage to your teeth that hard candy would.
Keep Yourself Hydrated
Drinking lots of fluids, especially water, will help to keep your body and mouth hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated will help you recover from your illness, while keeping your mouth hydrated will protect against dry mouth, which is uncomfortable and can result in cavities.
Sticking with water when you’re sick is your best bet, or tea if you’d like a warm beverage. Just be sure to avoid sugar or lemon in your tea as sugar will contribute to cavities and lemon is acidic.
If you have questions about your oral health, or need more advice on how to manage it during an illness, contact your dentist in Glastonbury for more information.
About the Author
Dr. Brad Heim and Dr. John Carroll have been providing high quality dental care for patients in Glastonbury, CT for more than 30 years. Patients will find outstanding dentistry for the entire family, making it convenient for every member of the family to have their needs met in one place.
If you would like to contact Dr. Heim or Dr. Carroll, they can be reached online through their website or by calling 860-633-2031.
