From Our Novato Dentist: Keep Up With Your Oral Health Even When You’re Dealing With Illness

Written by Dr. McConnell on Mar 1, 2021

It’s easy to let some of our regular habits and routines slip when we are not feeling our best. However, when you’re ill it’s actually more important than ever to take care of your smile with extra attention and care. Today, our Novato dentists are sharing some tips and tricks so that you can keep your smile healthy no matter what.

Here are some simple steps that you can take to prioritize your smile:

Brush often

Keeping your smile squeaky clean can help to shorten the lifespan of your illness, and keep you comfortable in the interim. Make sure that you are brushing your entire mouth, including your tongue at least twice a day. You may also benefit from swapping your old toothbrush for a fresh one, as old bristles can actually harbor bacteria.

Stay hydrated

Keep a water bottle handy to ensure that you’re drinking enough water throughout the day. This helps to boost your immune system as a whole, and it clears away accumulated plaque and bacteria. Remember, water is the absolute best beverage for your oral health.

Use products with Xylitol

Xylitol is a welcome alternative to sugary substances because it isn’t as appealing to oral bacteria, and it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels. So, when you are looking for cough drops and other ameliorative substances, try to avoid sugar in favor xylitol.

Incorporate a mouth rinse into your routine

Rinsing your mouth with water or a specially formulated rinse can help to clear away bacteria as well as leftover food particles. This simple action has an additional advantage of jump-starting saliva production, which also neutralizes bacteria.

Ready to learn more about taking care of your smile in sickness and in health? Our Novato family dentists are here to give you all of the information that you need. Give our team a call at our office, or use the Contact Us page on our website to get started.