Oral Healthcare After the Flu

We are right in the heart of flu season and if you have not taken your flu shot and end up coming down with a cold, you are going to want to make sure a sloppy oral hygiene regimen does not make you fall victim to the flu a second time around.

The American Dental Association recommends taking extra care during the flu season. Dr. Gene Romo (an ADA Dentist), stated, “It’s important to take care of your dental health all year round, but especially when you’re sick.” He continued, “The number one rule is not to share your toothbrush anytime, but especially when you are sick.”

While most people are aware of the flu spreading through coughing and sneezing, many are simply unaware that the virus also spreads through contact with surfaces exposed to the virus for roughly three days. Point being, if someone is sharing your toothbrush and either of you have the flu during that time, the other will more than likely end up getting it as well.

In children, vomiting is sometimes associated with the flu, much more so than with adults. After vomiting, be sure to actually have the child rinse their mouth with a diluted combination of water and baking soda. This will remove the acids from the mouth before brushing.

This is important because brushing right after vomiting will only scrub those acids on the teeth, actually making them more prone to deterioration. The rinse ensures these acids are gone before brushing and promotes healthier teeth.

Many of us will have horrible coughing spells when suffering from the flu. To counter this, we will use cough drops or cough syrup. Unfortunately, many of these products are packed with sugars. If you are using these products, make sure you use sugar-free drops or it is just like packing your mouth with a sugary candy all day, promoting tooth decay.

Two very good outlets for information on what do to while you or someone in your family has the flue are CDC.GOV/FLU and MouthHealthy.org. In addition to these websites, it never hurts to discuss your oral hygiene program with your dentist during flu season. He or she will no doubt have some great tips to make sure you make it through flu season with a healthy mouth.

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