Colder Weather Viruses And Their Impact On Our Oral Health

With the onset of Autumn and Winter come new challenges for our teeth and gums.
There is little doubt that the weather is changing and starting to become cooler. Turning the clocks back an hour also contributes to the feeling that Autumn is well under way. As the heating goes on and windows are closed on buses and in buildings generally, the viruses that seem to occur more in the colder weather start to spread quickly and widely. You may be fortunate and avoid the worst of these but a large proportion of us will suffer the effects of one virus or another over the next few months.
Naturally, it is important to protect ourselves as much as possible with vaccinations, looking after ourselves when we become ill and contacting the medical profession for advice if we need to. Today though, the Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic team are going to take a look at the ways that these viruses can impact our oral health and what we can do to minimise any potential damage that might be done.
Dry mouth
One common problem when we have a cold or virus is that our mouth becomes dry. As you will know from our blogs about smoking and why you should quit, a dry mouth is the perfect breeding ground for the potentially harmful oral bacteria that can lead to gum disease. Not only can this produce unpleasant symptoms such as bleeding gums and inflammation, but can also damage the bone surrounding the tooth and can cause them to become loose or even fall out.
Increased sugar
We are sure that patients of our Canterbury dental surgery are fully aware that too much sugar is bad for your teeth and unfortunately, the amount is likely to increase when we feel ill. Not only are we likely to ‘comfort’ ourselves with more sweet food and drinks, but many cold and flu medications contain a lot of sugar too in order to make them more palatable. If lozenges are sucked for a long time or syrups are taken to relieve a sore throat, these are likely to stick to your teeth, potentially for a long time.
Poor quality tooth care
The best thing for many viruses is to rest as much as possible. This can often mean that we neglect our daily routine and this can include our tooth brushing and flossing routine too. If we do this, bacteria and food debris will build up over time and tooth decay and gum disease is likely to follow.
Gum sensitivity
As our immune system starts to work to fight off viruses, this can cause temporary inflammation in the body and this includes the gums. You may already be taking a painkiller to relieve some of your general symptoms and this should help you to manage any discomfort from this.
‘False’ toothache
It is not uncommon for people to complain of a toothache in their upper rear teeth when they are ill. While it is possible that this may be tooth decay, if you have a viral infection it is likely that your sinuses have become infected. It is often this that causes the discomfort as it causes pressure to build. This usually goes of its own accord and again, pain killing medication should help.
Many of the problems mentioned above can be, if not eliminated, then at least reduced, helping you to keep your teeth and gums in good health. This will involve a little effort on the patient’s part which we appreciate can be difficult when you are feeling unwell. The little extra effort involved though can make a real difference to the impact on your teeth and gums.
Brush your teeth
We understand that all you want to do is to rest and sleep or lie on the sofa watching TV when you feel ill. It is important though to make the effort to brush your teeth and also floss too. It is possible that you might do this less effectively than normal but even a half decent brushing will help and you can pick this back up when you start to recover. This will also help to remove any sticky deposits of medication that you have been taking.
Drink water
Drinking water will not only help to remove sugars from your teeth and gums but will help you to stay hydrated. This may help to counteract some of the effects of any inflammation in your body and will also help you to avoid a dry mouth which, as mentioned earlier, is a leading cause of gum disease.
Use medication wisely
Where possible, choose sugar free medication for the least impact on your oral health. This is not always easy and the chances are that when you are ill, you will reach for your tried and trusted medications. Do try to make sure to clean your teeth and drink water afterwards to counter the effects of the sugar in these, and, under no circumstances should you suck lozenges or take a sugary cough syrup once you have cleaned your teeth for the last time before going to bed.
Salt water gargling
Gargling with salt water can help to fight some of the bacteria and viruses that may be causing your illness. It will also help to counter any inflammation of the gums as well.
Change toothbrush
Finally, when you have recovered from your illness, you should replace your toothbrush or the head of an electric toothbrush if you use one. Viruses may still be present if you don’t and reinfection may occur. New bristles will also be more effective and help your recovery from any harm done to your teeth and gums while you were ill.
We hope that this blog helps you should you fall ill to a virus. It is never a pleasant time but there is little sense in allowing problems with your teeth and gums to occur and prolonging the suffering. Remember that if you are concerned with the after effects of your illness on your teeth or gums, we are always here to help you at our Canterbury dental clinic. If you would like to book an appointment with us, or if you have an oral health query, you can contact us by calling Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic on 01227 463529.