{"id":94,"date":"2019-11-06T16:38:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T16:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=94"},"modified":"2019-12-09T20:55:37","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T20:55:37","slug":"dentist-flu-season-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/06\/dentist-flu-season-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Oral Health Tips for Flu Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"sick<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Flu season is often filled with endless drainage, sniffling, and sneezing. For most people, it\u2019s so bad that they would try every home remedy and medication to dry up their body so they never have to put another Kleenex to their raw, red nose again. While having a cold or the flu may put you out of commission for a couple days, it\u2019s still important to take care of your mouth, even if that means having to get off the couch. Here are five oral health tips for flu season from your dentist so you don\u2019t have to tackle physical and dental illnesses at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Thoroughly Brush Twice Each Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although being sick can drain you of all your energy, it\u2019s still important to find time and the effort to get up brush your teeth. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, be sure to use gentle circular motions and clean the surface of each of your teeth. This will help you regulate bacteria and plaque buildup so you can ward off oral problems<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay Hydrated <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Medicines like decongestants can dry out your nose and\nsinuses so you can finally take a breath, but it may work too <\/em>well for\nsome. A common side-effect of these medications is dry mouth, which can cause\nproblems for your teeth and gums, especially if you\u2019re sick for long periods of\ntime. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to stay hydrated during flu season. Although sports\ndrinks like Gatorade have electrolytes and calories that you may need to replenish,\ndrinking too many sugar-packed beverages could make your teeth vulnerable to\ncavities. Instead, keep a reusable bottle of water next to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replace Your Toothbrush<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you start getting over your sickness, be sure to\nreplace your toothbrush. The bristles on brushes can easily trap bacteria and make\nyou sick again, which is the last thing you would want! Be sure to choose one\nwith a soft-bristled tip that\u2019s  gentle\non your gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gargle With Salt Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being sick can make your mouth feel dry and your breath smell, which can cause you to feel even worse than you already are. To help reduce the effects of plaque buildup and bad breath, gargle with a glass of salt water. Dissolve a tablespoon of table salt in a glass of warm water, being sure to swish and spit until the water is gone. This will remove any bacteria buildup along your gumline that may increase your risk of developing gum disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Mindful of Liquid Medicine & Throat Lozenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people are surprised to learn that cough drops and\nliquid medicines are packed with ingredients like sugar and corn syrup. These can\nstick to your teeth and gums, feeding bacteria that produce waste like enamel-eroding\nacid. Instead, shop smart by looking for store-bought remedies with sugar\nsubstitutes or ones that are sugar-free. If you aren\u2019t able to find any, be\nsure to brush or rinse your mouth after taking syrups or cough drops that can\nput you at an increased risk of developing cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these flu season health tips, you should be able to\nkeep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape. If your mouth is fresh and clean, it\nmay make you feel a little better, especially if you\u2019re dealing with snotty drainage\nthat won\u2019t seem to stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ukti Phadnis is passionate about providing her patients\nwith the highest quality of dental care. She believes that it\u2019s important to\ngive her patients the tools and knowledge they need to maintain great oral\nhealth and enjoy their natural smile for as long as possible. That\u2019s why she\ntakes the time to talk to each of her patients and discuss any dental issues\nthey may face. For questions or to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning,\nvisit Wethersfield Dental Group\u2019s website<\/a> or\ncall 860-400-3007.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Flu season is often filled with endless drainage, sniffling, and sneezing. For most people, it\u2019s so bad that they would try every home remedy and medication to dry up their body so they never have to put another Kleenex to their raw, red nose again. While having a cold or the flu may put you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-94","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":105,"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94\/revisions\/105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wethersfielddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}