Cold And Flu Remedies Could Effect Your Teeth

Sneezing - check
Coughing - check
Sore Throat - check
Headache - check
Exhausted - check
Feel like crap - check

Yup, you caught a dreaded cold.

There are tones of remedies that you can try to help relieve your symptoms but did you ever think that they may be causing damage to your teeth?

Decongestants:
These help battle runny noses by drying things out, but it can ultimately leave things to dry, like saliva flow. Reduced saliva flow can cause bacterial growth in the mouth, which can cause problems like gum disease and tooth decay...Gross

Cough drops and throat lozenges:
Sugar is the common ingredient in these products, and we all know sugar can lead to tooth decay. So this means, holding it in your mouth for extended periods can cause damage. Try using sugar-free cough drops and lozenges next time.

Cough Syrup:
Cough syrup is sticky and can leave a film on the teeth which can lead to tooth decay. Also, cough syrup contains alcohol which can decrease saliva flow. This makes it hard to wash away the film stuck to your teeth.

Hot Tea:
Yes, drinking hot tea is great to help cure a cold but it still has tooth eroding ingredients.  It is best to drink hot tea through a straw, this minimizes the contact with the teeth.

Orange juice:
Orange juice is rich in Vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system but the acidity can soften tooth enamel.

Even though protecting your teeth is the last thing on your mind when your sick, it will help prevent further damage in the future!


Information found here.