Oral Health

Being Ill Can Affect Your Dental Health

When you get sick, a lot of your normal everyday functions are affected (usually for the worst). Your appetite suddenly leaves you. Your body aches and tells you it needs to rest in bed. Your mind is unmotivated to do anything useful since you feel like hell all over.

It’s never a fun time for anyone. Even as much as kids say they’d rather be sick and skip school, truly being sick isn’t a fun thing, and being healthy while at school is much better than staying home sick.

But notice how much this all affects your health and everyday life. If it’s doing a number on those things, it may be having a bigger impact than you think on the “little things” you don’t consider as much. Take your teeth and overall oral health, for example. How much is an illness compromising the health of your teeth?

Let’s take a look at the different reasons being sick isn’t good for your teeth.

Weakens your immune system.

Your oral health is much more susceptible to bacteria and the likes if you’re not brushing twice a day and flossing once daily while sick. Even if you are doing those things while sick, your chance of having plaque build up or bacteria erode enamel is higher simply because your entire immune system is weakened. Your best bet here is to stay on top of your dental routine no matter how bad you feel (even if someone has to bring you your toothbrush!), because you don’t want your teeth to be compromised in the process.

Acid can erode teeth.

When vomiting, especially frequently, your teeth’s enamel can take a huge hit because of the acidity in vomit. The best thing you can do after getting sick like this is to brush your teeth and rinse out your mouth, even if it’s just with a little bit of toothpaste. This will help to get rid of acidity that’s left to linger on your enamel.

Brushing while sick can leave your brush contaminated down the road.

Perhaps you’ve heard of this, or maybe you haven’t. But anytime you’re sick, you should toss your current toothbrush afterwards. The chances that bacteria or viruses are lingering among your brush’s bristles are actually pretty high. Don’t make yourself ill again down the road from such a simple mistake. Toss your brush and get a new one. (Or alternatively, have a “sick brush” at the ready that’s a very cheap toothbrush for when you’re sick.)