Cold and Flu season- Oral Health Tips to Prevent It

With winter just around the corner it is time for you to prevent yourself and your family against a wide variety of germs just waiting to attack your body and weaken its metabolism. One of the best ways of doing this is to follow a good oral health care regime. It is today understood world over, that good oral health does not just simply provide us with a sparkling smile or whiter teeth but works towards the overall health of a person. This is more important during the winter which is also known as the cold and flu season because many people succumb to the flu during this time. Taking good care of your teeth in this season considerably lessens the chances for infection.

One of the primary things to take care of during the winter season is your toothbrush. Although it is a cleaning instrument, what many people don’t know is that a toothbrush is a breeding ground for all kinds of germs. Ensure that your toothbrush is replaced at regular intervals to prevent a proliferation of germs. Food particles can sometimes remain within the bristles and cause various microorganisms to breed in your toothbrush. Replace you brush at least every three months. Wash it under a strong flow of water every day so that all residue is washed out. You can even wash the brush in hot water or in a mouthwash, just ensure that you use the solution only once. Regularly clean your toothbrush holder and if it contains more than one brush ensure that the heads don’t touch. Keep the brush dry by lightly patting it on some tissue paper after every use. For those of you who cover the head of the brush please understand that this actually increases the number of germs compared to fresh air. Make sure that your toothbrush is safe and take the first step towards an infection free winter.

In case you do fall ill, choose cough syrups that are sugar free to protect your teeth. If the medicine contains high dosage of sugar, rinse your mouth well or brush lightly to remove the excess sugar. If you come down with a stomach infection and suffer from vomiting make sure that you rinse your mouth or brush your teeth so that the acidic fluid doesn’t eat into the enamel of your teeth.

Drink plenty of water and try to ensure that your nasal passages are not congested. Congestion can result in dry mouth where production of saliva is hampered. If there is very little saliva there is a greater risk of cavities as saliva cleanses the mouth. For a great winter follow these simple rules and for more detailed information visit dental specialists at Dentzz Dental.