It is that time of year when sniffles, coughs and scratchy throats are surfacing and feeling under the weather is all too familiar. Having a cold or the flu can affect your entire body, including your teeth! It’s important to practice good dental hygiene all the time but especially when you’re sick.
Here are a few extra steps you should take to protect your teeth during the flu and cold season.
Disinfect Toothbrushes Daily
It’s important to keep your toothbrush clean and disinfected always but especially when you or someone in your household is ill. Toothbrushes can harbor illness-causing germs that can pass from toothbrush to toothbrush if you and your family store them together. A dirty toothbrush also runs the risk of reinfecting yourself. Clean your toothbrush thoroughly every day by running it under steaming hot water or dipping it into an antibacterial mouth wash.
Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly
You should replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or if the bristles become misshapen. However, it’s important to completely replace your toothbrush and those of your family members after recovering from illness. While cleaning a toothbrush daily helps avoid spreading and reinfection, it’s safer to totally replace your entire toothbrush at the end of your illness.
Rinse With Mouthwash after Vomiting
Vomiting tends to coat your teeth with harmful stomach acid that can damage your tooth enamel, gums, cheek tissue, throat, and tongue if the acid is left to sit on those surfaces. Avoid letting the acid sit on the surfaces in your mouth by rinsing and gargling with mouthwash after every instance of vomiting. Dilute the mouthwash with water if the strong flavor is upsetting to your already queasy stomach.
Sensitivity Is Normal
Teeth sensitivity is actually a very common symptom when you have a cold or the flu and it’s no cause for alarm and will dissipate as your body heals. Just like the rest of your body, your teeth can ache during sickness. Make sure to avoid foods or drinks that hurt your teeth and see a dentist if sensitivity persists after your other symptoms have dissipated.
Skip The Dentist
For your health, the health of the dentists and dental team, reschedule any dental appointments you may have while you are sick. Germs are easily spread via the mouth and your dentist won’t thank you for coming in with a mouthful of flu or cold virus.
Make sure to call and let your dental office know why you are unable to attend, and most offices will gladly assist you to make a new appointment. Spreading illness aside, going to the dentist while ill can be extremely uncomfortable because of symptoms like tooth sensitivity, sore throat, or a stuffy nose.
Simple Steps Save Teeth
The last thing you want to do while sick is to take extra care of your teeth, but these tips are pretty easy to follow overall. With a little extra care, you can protect your teeth from being affected by a flu or cold.
Safe Dental Visits
Sedki Dentistry in Commerce Twp MI is taking all the necessary measures and required steps to make your dental visit safe, especially now with our new reality. We urge you to stay home if you are not feeling well. Our dental staff is always available for consultations and advice via telephone if you have dental concerns or questions. As a full-service dental clinic, we are committed to the uncompromised care to each of our patients ensuring they receive the highest level of dental care possible.
Dr. Sedki has more than 20 years of experience and offers the latest technology in modern dentistry, including a comprehensive list of general dentistry, restorative dental treatments and cosmetic dental care services to meet the needs of your entire family. Call our Commerce area dental office to schedule a Free Dental Consultation and get the personalized dental experience you deserve!