If you’ve been affected by the cold and flu season, the last thing you are thinking about is your teeth or braces. While you are concentrating on battling your cold or flu symptoms, there are a few things related to your cold or flu that could affect your oral health.

Tooth decay and gum disease can have detrimental effects on your orthodontic treatment, so to keep your oral health is good shape while you are sick, follow these tips:

Keep Your Teeth CleanBattling the Flu with Braces

If you are using cough drops, keep in mind that many of them are full of sugar, so if possible use sugar-free cough drops. Avoid biting down on the hard cough drops to avoid damaging your teeth and braces.

Cough syrup is also full of sugar, so be sure to rinse your mouth out after taking it before you go back to bed. Keep in mind that stomach acid can also be damaging to your teeth so if you are throwing up, be sure to clean and rinse your teeth.

Stay Hydrated

When you have cold, many times, you will also have a stuffy nose, making breathing through your mouth your only option. Breathing through your mouth can cause a decrease in salvia while you are sleeping. This lack of saliva will not only make your mouth dry, but it leaves your mouth more susceptible to harmful bacteria, increasing your risk of cavities.

To avoid dry mouth, be sure to keep a water bottle handy and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Maintain Your Oral Care Routine

It’s no secret that a cold or flu can take the energy out of most people. Although it may be tempting to skip your regular brushing and flossing routine and crawl into bed, it is essential to keep up your routine. The success of your orthodontic treatment relies heavily on your oral health, so be sure to keep up with regular brushing and flossing, even if you are sick with a cold or the flu.

At King Orthodontics we know dealing with the cold or flu is no easy task and we know that it is even more challenging with braces. If you’ve been affected by the cold and flu season, we hope you feel better soon! Contact us today to schedule your next orthodontic appointment!