When you’re feeling sick, it can be hard to motivate yourself to do much more than lay in bed all day, switching between Netflix and napping. But your oral hygiene is still important during this time. We’ve got some things to keep in mind to maintain your oral health while you are sick.

Toothbrush best practices

It’s not a good idea to share your toothbrush with someone else in general, but you should especially avoid doing so if you are sick. You will spread your germs to them and they are more likely to catch the illness from you. Because your toothbrush is left moist after you use it, viruses can live on there for up to 72 hours. It might also be a good idea to replace your toothbrush after you recover from your illness.

Choose healthy cough drops

If you’ve got a cough or a sore throat, you might find yourself sucking on cough drops for most of the day. While these are helpful when it comes to soothing your throat, they might be just as bad for your teeth as regular candy. When buying cough drops, look for ones that are sugar-free and don’t contain any corn syrup.

Tips for after vomiting…

If you actually vomit while you are sick, the contents of your vomit (including stomach acid) will coat your teeth. The best thing to do after vomiting is to rinse your mouth out with water thoroughly. You can even mix the water a teaspoon of baking soda to more effectively remove the acid. Wait around 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after you vomit as doing so straight away can cause more damage.

Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is always important when you’re feeling sick, but it’s also important to your oral health and hygiene. Dry mouth can be common while you’re sick, due to dehydration and certain medications. This can cause oral health problems because your saliva effectively washes away food particles and bacteria from your teeth. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and combat dry mouth.

Keep brushing and flossing

We know you’re probably feeling exhausted, but keep making the effort to brush and floss in the morning and before you go to bed. It’s only a few minutes a day, and you’ll be glad you kept it up.

Avoid the dentist for now

If you have cold or flu symptoms, then it is best to avoid dental appointments as you might pass your illness onto the staff and the other patients in the waiting room.If you already have a dentist appointment booked, then call to explain and see if you can rearrange.

If you need any more advice about maintaining good oral hygiene will your sick, get in touch with Advance Family Dental today.