Oral health in cold weather: how colds affect the mouth
The hidden impact of cold seasons in your mouth
Autumn brings gray afternoons, woolen coats, and warm drinks that warm the soul. But behind the seasonal romanticism hides an overlooked problem: the silent sabotage of oral health in autumn.
Colds, medication and dry mouth go hand in hand this season. The perfect trio to unbalance your mouth’s ecosystem without giving it a chance.
Have you seen how things are? While focusing on curing the fever, something happens to your teeth and gums…
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The drugs that cure... and dry!
In fact you may not know, but the arsenal against colds (nasal sprays, antihistamines, decongestants) bring with them treacherous side effects: reduction of saliva production, their first line of defense against cavities.
Or be, less saliva and more problems and an obscure relationship between drugs and dry mouth.
- Bacteria to multiply without control
- Inflamed gums
- Affected breath
- Brittle enamel and prone to cavities
According to MouthHealthy.org, “long-term dry mouth can result in tooth decay and candidiasis of the mouth”.
Breathing through the mouth, "a narrow path
When the nose clogs, the body improvises (and unscrolls).
Breathing through the mouth seems harmless, but it causes extreme dry oral mucosa, aggravating the feeling of discomfort, irritation and inflammation.
You knew that...
- Leads to an increased likelihood of developing periodontal disease
Toothbrush an ally in oral health, but it can also be blameworthy... find out why!
He got sick. Better, what a relief!
But his brush… it’s still there, loaded with viruses.
And if this one shares the brush cup with the rest of the family, it is, in practice, doing a “happy hour” of microorganisms.
So, changing the toothbrush after a cold is not an exaggeration, it’s preventive hygiene.
Don’t forget that respiratory viruses survive up to 72 hours in humid environments like a used toothbrush…
How to keep the oral cavity more immune to dry mouth and colds?
- Hydrate constantly: thirst is already a sign of advanced dehydration.
- Avoid acidic or alcoholic beverages: they further damage the oral mucosa.
- Xilitol mask: activates saliva production and fights bacteria.
- Use ALCOHOL-FREE elixir: because alcohol dries and irritates the mouth.
- Opt for sensitive toothpastes: they protect the brittle enamel.
- Change the brush after each respiratory infection: basic, but ignored.
- Faça um check-up oral antes do inverno: antecipe problemas, não repare danos.
The immune system starts in the mouth
More than 70% of immune cells come into contact with the external world through the oral and nasal mucosa.
If these “doors” are compromised (by dry mouth, inflammation or injury), your entire body is more exposed.
An example of how this can happen.
⚠️Joana, 38, had a severe flu in October.
Medicine, hot drinks, bed, Netflix, books, that is, everything a good flu is entitled to. He returned to work without changing the brush, without strengthening oral hygiene.
In December, cavities on the premolar. In January, gingivitis.
The problem was not the flu itself, but her traces and what they did to her mouth, and she didn’t see it.
If oral hygiene during the flu is important, then it’s even more so!
Protecting your mouth in autumn gives you more immunity to get through winter
As we have seen throughout this article, autumn is beautiful but brings more than fallen leaves and rain to the little ones. Brings real risks to your oral health: many of them invisible but avoidable.
When you take care of your mouth, you are protecting much more than just a smile: you are protecting its immune system, its breathing, and its overall health.
Because a constipated body does not need a mouth in crisis. It needs allies and immune system support.
Now that you know where to start, schedule your dental consultation at A Clínica.
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