It’s that time of year again. It’s when cold and flu bugs are going around like crazy. You may make every effort to avoid catching one, but sooner or later, you might very well find yourself cooped up at home with a warm blanket and a box of tissues. To cope with your symptoms, you might use a variety of remedies, but can those remedies affect your teeth? Let’s talk about how they might damage your smile and how you can take measures to protect your oral health throughout cold and flu season.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines can help you defeat the need to sniffle your way through the day, but when they dry out your nasal passages, they might also dry out your mouth. Without enough saliva to rinse away harmful bacteria and food particles, you are at an increased risk of tooth decay and bad breath. You can combat the harmful effects of antihistamines by drinking plenty of water and sucking on sugar-free candy to stimulate saliva production.
Cough Drops and Sore Throat Lozenges
Cough drops and sore throat lozenges are essentially candy with some medicinal benefits; most brands contain a high amount of sugar. Continually sucking on cough drops or sore throat lozenges exposes your teeth to the sweet stuff for prolonged periods of time, which gives the sugar an opportunity to interact with the bacteria in your mouth and lead to significant plaque formation. It’s wise to opt for sugar-free cough drops and lozenges. If you do choose to use varieties with sugar, be extra diligent about brushing your teeth.
Liquid Medicines
Cough syrup and liquid cold medicines are usually full of sugar. That sugar can coat your teeth and contribute to decay. They might also contain alcohol, which can dry out the mouth and lead to even more problems. It’s best to choose gel caps or pills instead of liquid medicines.
Beverages
What is your favorite thing to drink while you are feeling down? You might turn to orange juice because it has a high vitamin C content, which is good for your immune system. Or perhaps you enjoy sipping on various types of tea to soothe your throat and promote a faster recovery. Whatever you might choose to drink during your sick time, be cautious. Orange juice is quite sugary, so it is best to drink it in moderation, and drink it quickly rather than continually sipping it throughout the day. Tea is acidic, so don’t drink too much of it, and try to consume it without any sugar or honey. And, of course, stick to thorough oral hygiene practices.
Colds and flus can do more than make you feel icky — the remedies for them can harm your teeth! Make wise decisions with how you treat your illness so your smile can make it through the sick season unharmed.
About the Author
Dr. Bryan Griffith is an accomplished, well-known dentist in Prestonsburg. He enjoys educating his patients about how they can care for their oral health when they visit him for their regular cleanings and checkups. If you would like to talk to him about how you can protect your teeth this cold and flu season, contact our office at 606-874-9311.