As we enter cold and flu season, our East Plano dentists are here with some tips on you can care for your smile even when you are not feeling your best. We hope that you find this information helpful, and, remember, you can always reach out to our team if you need additional support
Whether you’re dealing with a cold, the flu, or a bacterial infection, you are likely to notice some unpleasant side effects:
- Dry mouth—your mouth may feel kind of stale and grimy, and you may develop a cough due to lack of saliva.
- Bad breath—malodorous breath often accompanies dry mouth, as well as bacterial build up.
- Sore throat—a sore throat may be a primary symptom of your illness, or it may develop due to issues like post-nasal drip.
- Inflamed oral tissues—you may find that your oral tissues are more sensitive, swollen, and prone to bleeding when you’re under the weather.
The good news is that there are some simple things that you can do to both ease your symptoms, and maintain better oral health:
Drink plenty of water—keep water handy to refresh your smile, jump-start saliva production, and clear away dental debris and bacteria.
Avoid sugary products—oral bacteria love to feed on sugars and refined carbohydrates. When you are under the weather, take special care to choose foods, mouth rinses, and cough drops that use Xylitol rather than sugar.
Keep your smile extra clean—make sure that you are following your dentist’s recommendation when it comes to brushing your teeth and flossing. You can also incorporate a mouth rinse into your routine for extra freshening benefits.
There’s no way around it; getting sick is never fun. However, there are simple things you can do to feel better, faster, and ease your symptoms. To learn more, or to schedule a personal consultation, give our East Plano dentists a call!