{"id":13573,"date":"2022-11-07T17:41:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T17:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drmaggiedavis.com\/blog\/?p=13573"},"modified":"2022-12-06T18:53:18","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T18:53:18","slug":"3-risks-cold-and-flu-season-poses-to-your-childs-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drmaggiedavis.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/07\/3-risks-cold-and-flu-season-poses-to-your-childs-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Risks Cold and Flu Season Poses to Your Child\u2019s Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Children seem to get their hands on everything. At home, this might not be a huge problem, but at school or friends\u2019 houses, it could mean they pick up some nasty bugs and catch the flu or a cold, especially this time of year. Even with your best efforts to prevent it, you may have to deal with a sick kid, but you don\u2019t necessarily have to deal with a cavity afterward. Read on to learn how being ill could put your child\u2019s teeth at risk and ways to protect them this cold and flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Dangers to Your Child\u2019s Teeth During Sickness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to battling all the symptoms of the flu or a cold, your child must also fight off bacteria that put teeth at risk of decay. Below are some of the ways that their oral health could be jeopardized by these illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouth Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A stuffy nose can make it difficult to breathe, leading many kids to use their mouths more often. Unfortunately, this temporary habit can lead to dry mouth, which allows decay-causing bacteria to thrive and erode teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relaxed Routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When people become ill, many tend to forgo certain parts of their regular routine. However, brushing and flossing can\u2019t be skipped. If your child doesn\u2019t brush and floss every day, including when they\u2019re sick, sticky plaque builds up and eats away the protective enamel on their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugary Remedies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cough drops, honey, and Nyquil may be soothing, but they come with an increased risk of tooth decay because they have sugar. This sugar feeds bad, cavity-causing bacteria, and they make acids that lead to decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ways to Protect Your Child\u2019s Teeth This Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your child gets sick, you have enough to deal with already\u2014they don\u2019t need a cavity or two as well! To help you both, you need to take these actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n