Could Cold and Flu Remedies Have an Impact on Your Teeth? Your Dentist Answers

With cold and flu season upon us, you may not be surprised to find yourself feeling under the weather. When you don’t feel great, and you’re not thinking clearly, you want to do whatever it takes to eliminate your discomfort; however, many medicines could have a negative impact on your oral health. Let’s take a look at some common cold remedies and what you can do to protect your teeth while you combat viruses.

Cough Syrup and Other Liquid Medicines

You might be surprised to learn that many cough syrups and other liquid medicines are sometimes loaded with sugar. Worse yet, they are sticky and made to coat your throat, which also means that they may be covering your teeth as well. If these medications contain alcohol, that can decrease saliva production and make it challenging to wash the sticky coating off of your teeth.

Choose gel-caps or pills whenever possible, or take your medicine before a meal, which will help wash it away. Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water will also help to clean away excess cold medicine.

Decongestants

Decongestants are designed to eliminate your runny nose by drying things out. While this may give you some temporary relief from the symptoms of your cold, dry mouth also presents a problem since reduced saliva flow encourages bacterial growth. Increased bacteria can result in tooth decay and cavities.

Be sure to keep hydrated with water when you’re using a decongestant.

Cough Drops

Just like cough syrup, many cough drops are also loaded with sugar. Cough drops are designed to dissolve slowly and coat your throat and mouth with soothing ingredients. However, they may also be coating your teeth with sugar.

Look for sugar-free throat lozenges and cough drops to avoid this problem.

Orange Juice

Packed with helpful vitamin C, orange juice may be one of the first things you reach for when you’re sick. Beware, however, because orange juice presents a double threat to your teeth since it is acidic and contains sugar. Acid works to break down tooth enamel, while sugar fuels the bacteria that causes tooth decay.

To receive the benefits of orange juice and protect your oral health, it’s best to drink it in one sitting or during a meal rather than sip on it throughout the day. This way, you can brush your teeth after your meal to protect against cavities.

Hopefully, these helpful flu season tips will help you feel better and avoid additional trips to your dentist due to tooth decay.

About the Author

Dr. Derek Song and his team focus on providing patients in Burlington, MA with the comprehensive dental care they need to achieve and maintain optimum oral health. His kind and friendly demeanor puts his patients at ease and helps them to have a pleasant experience each time they visit.

If you would like to contact Dr. Song, he can be reached by calling 781-272-5890 or through his website.