When you’re feeling sick, it’s easy to forego your normal self-care routine. This is particularly true when it comes to oral health care.
However, many people don’t realize just how important taking care of your mouth can be when you’re under the weather.
Want to learn more?
Check out these 7 tips for taking care of your mouth so you can recover quickly if you become ill during cold and flu season.
1. Drink Plenty of Water
When you’re sick, it’s tough to feel motivated when it comes to staying hydrated. It’s common knowledge that proper hydration can help flush toxins from your body and bolster your immune system. But it’s also essential to maintaining your oral health while you recover.
Why?
Dehydration leads to dry mouth, which isn’t a harmless discomfort: it can put you at greater risk for cavities by weakening the protective layer of enamel on your teeth. Moisture also helps protect against the bacteria that cause gum disease.
2. Keep Up with Oral Hygiene
If you’re suffering from cold and flu symptoms, it’s common to feel too fatigued to maintain your ordinary routine.
While it may be alright to skip one daily shower or a few workouts, one thing you shouldn’t forego is your twice-daily oral hygiene habits.
It’s particularly important to brush and floss your teeth when you’re ill to clean out lingering bacteria and prevent viruses from spreading when you sneeze or cough.
It isn’t usually necessary to replace your toothbrush once you recover as long as you keep it clean while you’re sick according to CDC guidelines. However, it is still a good time to consider whether it’s time to replace it anyway: every 3 months is best.
3. Avoid Sugary Juice, Sports Drinks, and Cough Drops
While many of your friends or family members may recommend electrolyte sports drinks or juice to help you feel better, it’s not a good idea.
These beverages contain sugar, which can weaken your immune system and quickly cause tooth decay if you don’t brush your teeth immediately afterward. Opt for water fortified with electrolytes instead.
Don’t forget cough drops and flu lozenges, either. Make sure you’re only using sugar-free options.
Try to avoid gummies and fizzy vitamin C drinks that claim to boost your immune system, as these products also tend to contain sugar. Try a vitamin C supplement in the form of a tablet if your doctor recommends it.
4. Rinse and Repeat If You Vomit
Getting sick is one of the most unpleasant parts of having the flu or similar illnesses. It may be tempting to immediately lay back down and try to forget the ordeal.
Keep in mind, though, that your stomach uses acid to break down and digest whatever you eat, and that acid remains on your teeth after you throw up.
Wash away any particles and acid by rinsing your mouth with water after you vomit. If you feel up for brushing your teeth, that’s even better.
5. Sanitize Your Mouth Guard or Aligners
Even if you’re maintaining your oral health care routine, one thing you may not think of while you’re sick is sanitizing your mouth guard or aligner trays.
JS Dental Lab recommends cleaning mouth guards of any kind before and after use. If you’re sick and you wear a mouth guard all day to prevent teeth grinding or jaw clenching, you might want to add extra cleanings to remove the extra bacteria building up in your mouth.
6. Gargle with Salt Water
Gargling with salt water has long been touted for its ability to kill bacteria before or during illness, but it can have major benefits for your oral health as well.
The viruses and bacteria that make you sick proliferate in both your throat and mouth. Salt helps wash away these impurities to make it easier for your body to fight infection.
To make a saltwater solution, add about 1/2 teaspoon to 8 oz. warm water, making sure it’s a comfortable temperature before gargling for 30 seconds and spitting it out. You can repeat this process several times throughout the day as needed.
7. Brush After Taking Liquid Cold or Cough Medicine
Liquid cold and flu medicines that provide much-needed symptom relief contain sugars and other ingredients that can cause harm to your teeth.
Even if they don’t exactly taste like candy, you should still be aware of the risks of taking them at your bedside and rolling back over to rest.
Difficult as it may feel, brush your teeth after taking liquid medications and wash your toothbrush to remove any lingering residue.
Conclusion
Cold and flu season makes us susceptible to a myriad of illnesses, so it’s important to know how to care for yourself properly when the unexpected occurs.
That includes caring for your oral health, which will ultimately benefit your overall recovery.
Keep these tips in mind if you or a member of your family gets sick this season!
Shift Frequency © 2021 – Ways to Care for Your Mouth
When You’re Sick During Cold and Flu Season