oral health when sick

When you’re sick all you want to do is lay in bed, sleep, watch TV, maybe drink something warm, and then sleep some more. You don’t want to take care of anything, but it’s very important to not forget about taking care of your oral health.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re dealing with being sick.

  1. Rinse After Vomiting
    If you’re dealing with some tummy issues, after throwing up, the idea of brushing your teeth sounds wonderful. But in actuality, you should only rinse. When you brush your teeth right after throwing up, you can often spread the stomach acid around in your mouth. Instead, swish with a mixture of water and 1 tsp. baking soda. This can help neutralize the acid. After about 30 minutes you can brush your teeth.
  2. Use Sugar-Free Cough Drops
    Many people don’t even realize there is sugar in cough drops! Cough drops are meant to stay in your mouth for a few minutes before dissolving. This means all the sugar that is in that cough drop is spreading around your mouth. We all know that sugar leads to cavities. Make sure to read the labels when looking for cough drops and pick the brand that is sugar free!
  3. Stay Hydrated
    This can be difficult if you’re dealing with a stomach bug and can’t keep anything down. But, when you’re sick you usually are dealing with a dry through, stuffed nose and the feeling of being run down. Remember to drink water throughout the day to keep hydrated. Many parents often give their kids sports drinks with electrolytes but be careful of this because many of those drink have a lot of sugar.
  4. Replace Your Toothbrush
    Once you start to feel better, make sure to get yourself a new toothbrush! Even though toothbrushes are meant to clean our mouth, they can be the perfect home for bacteria. Normally, you should be replacing your toothbrush every three months. But when you are sick, you should replace your toothbrush as soon as you feel better!

We hope these tips help you improve your health during times of sickness. Stay healthy and safe out there! If you have any questions about your oral health, set up an appointment today.