Winter is in full swing! Unfortunately, this means cold and flu season is coming. Here, we’ve provided some mouth care tips for when you’re feeling sick.
Make sure that you are brushing twice a day for two minutes each session. Never share your toothbrush, particularly if you are sick. Be sure to continue to floss every day, once a day, for 2-3 minutes.
Some people decide to throw away their toothbrush after they have been ill; you may decide this is a good idea for you, too. The flu virus can live on your toothbrush for 72 hours. While it is not likely that you will reinfect yourself (unless you have a bad immune system), your brush may cross-contaminate other toothbrushes. This can make other people sick.
Choose sugar-free cough drops. A sugared cough drop has the same effect on your teeth as sucking on a piece of candy. The longer you suck on the cough drop, the longer your mouth bacteria can feed on the sugars in it. This, in turn, produces acids, which wears away tooth enamel and creates cavities.
For more information, call Milla Openko, DMD in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 412.885.5590 . Dr. Milla Openko and our team are happy to help!