If you get sick with the flu, it can place a strain on your oral health as well. Any time that you get sick, you can suffer from dehydration or exhaustion. That is why you need to pay special attention to your dental care.
Getting Dry Mouth
Often, when people get sick, they will suffer from dry mouth. This is because they frequently suffer from dehydration. When this happens, the mouth can become dry, making it more susceptible to dental decay and oral infections. To reduce the incidence of dry mouth, you should drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, during the day. Dry mouth causes the harmful bacteria in the mouth to settle on gums and teeth and damage the enamel. To keep the mouth healthy and free of decay, you need to have a healthy flow of saliva. Saliva balances out the pH in the mouth, so any demineralization that occurs can be restored through the process of remineralization.
Dealing with Acids
When you get sick and get dehydrated, your teeth also become more susceptible to the harm that mouth acids can cause. For example, you may drink more acidic drinks, such as orange juice, to get rid of cold or flu symptoms. However, orange juice, as noted, also sets up a more acidic environment in the mouth. Therefore, you need to make sure you rinse your mouth with water if you do consume citrus or drink orange juice while you are sick.
How Exhaustion Can Affect Your Oral Health
Sickness can also lead to exhaustion. When this happens, you may neglect brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once daily. That is why it is important to get into the habit of brushing and flossing your teeth. Doing so will keep you from neglecting your oral health even when you get sick.
Have you scheduled a dental cleaning within the last six months? If not, now is a good time to do so. Give us a call and schedule an appointment for a cleaning and exam today.
If you get sick with the flu, it can place a strain on your oral health as well. Any time that you get sick, you can suffer from dehydration or exhaustion. That is why you need to pay special attention to your dental care.