The Importance Of Keeping Your Mouth Healthy When You Feel Under the Weather

We don’t know about you, but we cannot believe that Thanksgiving is almost here and then the hustle and bustle of the holiday season will be upon us. While we hope all of our patients remain healthy during this time, occasional illnesses are always possible. If you should happen to fall ill, there are certain changes you should be making to protect your oral health and help improve your overall health.

Brush Your Teeth
When you aren’t feeling great, you probably just want to stay in bed; however, it is important to continue to brush your teeth regularly. When you’re under the weather, it is common to sip on a soft drink or a sports drink, and the added sugar can cause damage to your teeth.

Use Sugar-Free Cough Drops
When you aren’t feeling the best, you may use a cough drop or lozenge to help with coughing or soothe a sore throat. Choose a sugar-free option whenever possible. Cough drops and lozenges stay in your mouth until they have dissolved and have the potential to leave large amounts of sugar on your teeth. This can lead to decay and cavities.

Avoid Touching Your Mouth
You might be surprised how often you touch your mouth throughout the day. The mouth is the gateway to the body, and it is easy to transfer bacteria from your hands to your mouth and into your body. This is extremely problematic if you are a nail biter. We suggest breaking this bad habit.

We kindly ask that you reschedule your appointment if you are feeling under the weather. If you are feeling healthy and are concerned about the state of your oral health or it has been longer than six months since your last visit, we encourage you to call our office located in Bowie, MD to schedule an appointment. We hope you have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with your loved ones and look forward to seeing you soon!