We’ve all been there: our flu symptoms have taken hold to such an extent that we can’t even get out of bed. We recognize that we need to brush our teeth, but the mere though of standing only further exacerbates your sickness. In these moments, forcing yourself to get up and perform our daily hygienic routine may seem counterintuitive, but odds are it will help alleviate your symptoms faster as opposed to just letting your mouth fester with bacteria. Additionally, it will promote a healthy oral cavity in the long term, as the acids and mucus that occasionally flow through the mouth can eventually lead to cavities and tooth decay. Thus, one of the best ways to speed up recovery is by maintaining one’s normal hygienic routine. Here to assist with that is a brief outline on how to beat the flu with oral hygiene.
Don’t Slack on Your Routine
We all know that doing much of anything when we’re sick requires a great deal of effort. Depending the day, this could be nearly impossible. However, this is all the more reason why one should maintain a routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. When you’re sick, letting your routine lapse for even a single day could have disastrous consequences. Not only will it reduce the amount of acid and mucus present in your mouth, it will also minimize the overall amount of bacteria and promote an expedient recovery.
Hydration Station
When you have the flu, staying hydrated is tough. In its consistent attempts to expel the sickness, your body is constantly expending energy. This means it needs copious amounts of fluids to keep everything moving. What’s more, dehydration reduces the overall amount of saliva present in your moth, making it easer for bacteria to creep in and settle on the teeth. Fortunately, the solution is simple: just keep a bottle of water next to your bed that you can sip on throughout the day. Additionally, rinse your mouth with water every so often. Both of these steps should ensure optimal levels of saliva.
Say “No” To Sugar
When we’re sick, avoiding sugar is doubly important. When we typically consider sugary snacks to abstain from, we immediately think of candy and soda, but cough medicines and lozenges also contain sugar. Even worse, you may be taking them indiscriminately to alleviate your symptoms, while unintentionally giving the bacteria in your mouth something to snack on.
