AH-choo! Don’t Let a Cold Hamper Dental Care

If you are in the groove of brushing twice a day, flossing once and keeping your twice-yearly preventive appointments, your teeth and your overall oral health are benefitting from the attention. When cold and flu season hits, and you or your family members aren’t feeling their best, your smile with thank you if you make effort to maintain good dental habits in Pella, IA. Grab a box of tissues, snuggle up on the couch, get some extra sleep, and don’t let a cold affect your smile!

Water Is Your Friend

Feed a cold, starve a fever? Or is it feed a fever, starve a cold? You can’t go wrong staying hydrated, and unless your doctor prescribes a different beverage, plain water is often the best way to do that. Water doesn’t have the added colors, acids and sugars that can be hard on tooth enamel. While teeth-whitening can remove stains, tactics to prevent stains and cavities are always preferred.

Look for Sugar Free Cough Drops and Throat Soothers

It makes sense to quiet coughs and soothe throats, but lozenges with sugar or honey can bathe your teeth in sweeteners that are food for cavity-causing bacteria. Rather than expose tooth enamel to sugars for 15 and 20 minutes at a time, look for sugar-free versions that give the same cough and sore throat relief, without the sugar. While a white filling can restore a tooth that has a cavity, our trusted dental associates again recommend prevention as the preferred tactic.

Get Plenty of Rest

Our bodies can do a lot to heal themselves, and resting in bed or on the sofa, and getting extra sleep at night allows the body to fight germs and viruses. If you have a nightgaurd or oral appliance that helps prevent obstructive sleep apnea, or alleviates symptoms of TMJ, be sure to wear it. Your trusted dentists can provide instructions on cleaning and care, to avoid reinfecting yourself once you feel better.

When Sick, Reschedule Routine Appointments

Being strong and powering through is sometimes necessary, but reschedule routine appointments when you can, to give yourself time to recover.

Don’t Let Being Under The Weather Take A Toll on Your Smile

Good dental health helps support your good health overall. If a cold is making the rounds of your home or office, treat yourself gently, and continue to care for your smile. To learn more, schedule an appointment with your dentist by calling Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at (641) 628-1121.