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How to Keep Your Teeth Safe When Struggling with the Flu
Posted on 1/15/2019 by Crossroads Family Dental
Your body undergoes many changes as it tries to keep up with recovering from the flu. These changes and the modes of relief that most people seek out can increase the risk of tooth damage but this need not be the case.
Avoid Dehydration
It is important to increase your intake of water during this time because you may experience dry mouth as a result of the flu itself or medication. Saliva is a natural mouth cleanser, and its absence can mean that your teeth are at higher risk of decay.
Pay Attention to the Ingredients in Medication
The use of medication is necessary for easing the effects of the common cold, but common medicines contain sugar and alcohol. Both of these can leave your teeth at the risk of decay and damage. Sugars give the bacteria in the mouth something to feed on, releasing acid as a byproduct.
This acid corrodes enamel and leaves teeth exposed to decay. Alcohol is known to cause dry mouth. When the mouth is dry, there is not enough saliva to wash away the damaging sugars and acids that cause tooth decay and cavities. Avoid taking medication after brushing teeth or try medicines that come in the form of pills.
Sinuses and Tooth Ache
When your sinuses experience problems like inflammation or infection as the result of a flu, they can place pressure on your teeth. If you have a cold or flu, there's added pressure in your head, and this sometimes translates to tooth pain. Sinuses can also cause your lower teeth to ache.
This is due to referred pain, where a problem in one area leads to pain in another. Swollen sinuses can also force the teeth into different positions, leading your bite to feel a bit different. Use of OTC pain relievers, saline nose spray, a humidifier and lots of rest can help your body compensate for this condition as it recovers.
Consult our dental care experts today and ensure better oral health.
Your body undergoes many changes as it tries to keep up with recovering from the flu. These changes and the modes of relief that most people seek out can increase the risk of tooth damage but this need not be the case. 