Oral Health and the Flu

As Fall transitions into Winter for many of us here in the United States, we're suddenly bombarded with the threat of the flu. Recognizing that oral health and the flu are correlational, however, will work in your favor. To keep this dreaded sickness away, now more than ever is an important time to stay true to your oral health habits and avoid initial symptoms. A few simple tricks will keep you ahead of the game. It may be time to replace your toothbrush if you have not done so in the past four months. If you're already starting to experience any sickness, replace your current toothbrush with a new one, and be sure to do so once the sickness has passed. Make sure to swap out your toothbrush sanitizer (like our Dr. Tung's Snap-On Toothbrush Sanitizer) to keep bacteria away and your toothbrush nice and sterile. The sanitizer releases all-natural, anti-bacterial vapors to kill germs and safely sanitizer your toothbrush between brushings. Dr. Burhenne of Ask the Dentist is a big fan! Keeping your sanitizer snapped on tight will prevent airborne bacteria from other nearby toothbrushes away, which could otherwise lead to sickness contamination. Lastly, keep your tongue scraper handy. When your nose is stuffed up, it's difficult to breathe properly, forcing us to utilize the mouth moreso for this passageway of air. Unfortunately, this dries out the mouth and can lead to a nasty case of dry mouth. By committing to your daily tongue scraping ritual, you'll help to produce the saliva you need to keep your mouth moist and comfortable. Hopefully these handy tips will keep the flu away from you this season. Taking a few extra steps to increase your mindfulness toward your mouth will go a long way in preventative care, just as importantly as washing your hands. After all, you cannot have a healthy body without a healthy mouth!