{"id":16,"date":"2018-12-27T19:13:21","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T19:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/?p=16"},"modified":"2019-01-15T19:15:35","modified_gmt":"2019-01-15T19:15:35","slug":"flu-season-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/27\/flu-season-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Flu Season Tips from a Prestonsburg Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/woman-with-flu-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"woman with flu\" width=\"300\" height=\"187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/woman-with-flu-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/woman-with-flu-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/woman-with-flu-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/woman-with-flu.jpg 1431w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>No matter how careful you are to avoid that nasty cold bug that\u2019s going around the office, you might soon find yourself sniffling, sneezing, and feeling less than your best. The pharmacy aisle at your grocery store has lots of remedies that can ease your cold and flu symptoms and help you power through your illness. Unfortunately, though, those same health aids might end up hurting your smile if you\u2019re not careful. Here are a few flu season tips to help you and your smile survive your winter sickness.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<h2>Be Wary of Dry Mouth<\/h2>\r\nDecongestants can help relieve your nasal symptoms by drying things out in your throat and nose. Unfortunately, they might make things a little <em>too <\/em>dry, hindering saliva production. Bacteria thrive in such a dry environment, increasing the risk that plaque will form on your teeth. One way to keep your mouth moist is by sipping plenty of water or other non-sugary beverages. You can also try sucking on a sugar-free throat lozenge.\r\n<h2>Don\u2019t Consume Too Much Sugar<\/h2>\r\nSore throat lozenges, cough drops, and liquid cold medicine can all make you more comfortable while you\u2019re fighting a cold or flu. The downside is that such medications often contain high amounts of sugar \u2014 and sugar is one of the worst things for your teeth. It combines with bacteria in your mouth to form plaque, which can weaken the enamel and contribute to decay.\r\n\r\nTry to choose sugar-free medicines. Some artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, are even good for your teeth. If you <em>do <\/em>consume medicines that contain a high amount of sugar, be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward.\r\n<h2>Cut Back on Acidic Beverages<\/h2>\r\nWhat do you like to sip on when you\u2019re sick? Many people turn to orange juice, which contains a high level of immune-boosting vitamin C. Others enjoy a cup of hot tea with honey in it. While such drinks may make you feel a little better, they\u2019re dangerous for your teeth. Black tea and orange juice are both acidic, which means they can weak tooth enamel. Furthermore, juices contain high amounts of sugar, and the honey or sugar that you put in your tea can also cause damage.\r\n\r\nBe mindful of how much of these beverages you\u2019re drinking, and don\u2019t constantly sip on them throughout the day. About 30 minutes after you consume one of them, give your teeth a thorough brushing in order to get rid of lingering sugars and acids.\r\n\r\nHopefully, you can avoid falling ill this winter. If not, make smart choices about your home care so both your body and your mouth will survive your cold or flu unscathed.\r\n\r\n<strong>About the Author<\/strong>\r\n\r\nDr. Bryan Griffith has worked as a dentist for over 25 years. He is proud to provide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/preventative-dentistry.html\">preventive<\/a>, restorative, and cosmetic services for our community. If it is time for a checkup, or you have questions about how to care for your teeth this cold and flu season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/contact-us.html\">contact our office<\/a> at 606-874-9311.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"No matter how careful you are to avoid that nasty cold bug that\u2019s going around the office, you might soon find yourself sniffling, sneezing, and feeling less than your best. The pharmacy aisle at your grocery store has lots of remedies that can ease your cold and flu symptoms and help you power through your illness. Unfortunately, though, those same health aids might end up hurting your smile if you\u2019re not careful. Here are a few flu season tips to help you and your smile survive your winter sickness. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/27\/flu-season-tips\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>3 Flu Season Tips from a Prestonsburg Dentist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A dentist provides cold and flu season tips to help you protect your teeth while you\u2019re using common remedies to soothe the symptoms of your winter illness.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/27\/flu-season-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Flu Season Tips from a Prestonsburg Dentist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A dentist provides cold and flu season tips to help you protect your teeth while you\u2019re using common remedies to soothe the symptoms of your winter illness.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kentuckysedationdentist.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/27\/flu-season-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Brookside Dental Care Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-12-27T19:13:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-01-15T19:15:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" 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