Summer is supposed to be a time to for outdoor activities and having fun with family and friends. Nothing takes the fun out of the season like a summer cold. Even if you have to sit out the summer for a few days with a cold, you don’t have the option of sitting out of your oral hygiene.

You may want to cap out on the couch or in bed until you are feeling better. But you should still brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, twice a day. In fact, brushing your teeth may help you feel better. A cup of tea can help you feel better, but if you have one, leave out the sugar or lemon. Sugar can contribute to tooth decay, and lemon contains acid that can erode your tooth enamel. Speaking of sugar, if you have a cough or sore throat stick to sugarless cough syrup and cough drops. Cough syrup will stick to your teeth and you generally keep cough drops in your mouth for a while. Once in while illness can be accompanied by vomiting. If you throw up, the acids in your stomach will end up in your mouth, and the acid can damage your smile. You need to get the acid out of your mouth, but don’t brush your teeth right away. First, rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda and water. Then wait for thirty minutes to give your saliva time to neutralize any remaining acids.

If you have questions about oral hygiene in Summit, New Jersey, our dentist, Dr. Madalina Iorgulescu will be happy to talk with you. You can make an appointment at Morristown & Summit Prosthodontics, call 908-273-0884 today to plan your visit.