{"id":473,"date":"2018-12-17T17:41:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-17T17:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.longfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=473"},"modified":"2025-02-20T18:36:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T18:36:46","slug":"flu-season-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longfamilydental.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/17\/flu-season-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist Gives Flu Season Tips For Staying Healthy and Protecting Your Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Woman<\/a>It\u2019s that time of year again – cold and flu season is upon us! Unfortunately, even when you take steps to prevent it, you can still get sick and wind up spending days in bed recovering. And although you\u2019re probably not thinking about your teeth, all the cough syrup, decongestants and other remedies you\u2019re taking can really put your teeth at risk for cavities. Keep reading below for flu season tips from a dentist to help you feel better and protect your teeth at the same time!<\/p>\n

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Cough Syrup<\/h2>\n

Not only is cough syrup sticky, but it contains both sugar and alcohol. These ingredients lead to dry mouth, which increases the risk of cavities. If you can, opt for gel-caps instead.<\/p>\n

Cough Drops and Lozenges<\/h2>\n

Traditional cough drops and lozenges contain sugar, but in recent years, sugar-free options have become available.<\/p>\n

Sugar-free cough drops are a much better choice because you use so many of them when you\u2019re sick, and the kind that contain sugar are just as harmful as hard candy!<\/p>\n

Decongestants<\/h2>\n

Decongestants not only dry out your sinuses, but your mouth as well. Since saliva washes away plaque and neutralizes the acids that cause cavities, dry mouth significantly increases your risk of tooth decay.<\/p>\n

Drinking a lot of water and chewing sugar-free gum will help counteract these effects.<\/p>\n

Orange Juice<\/h2>\n

Orange juice contains both acid and sugar, and both of them together can really damage your teeth – especially if you\u2019re drinking a lot of it throughout the day.<\/p>\n

If you want to drink orange juice for vitamin C, try to consume it in a short, 10-15 minute period instead of sipping on it all day. It\u2019s also a good idea to rinse with water several times afterward.<\/p>\n

Additional Tips For Protecting Your Teeth<\/h2>\n