Now that flu season is in full swing, it seems like we are all desperate to stay healthy in any way possible. A popular tactic for dealing with flu and cold season is by having cough drops nearby at all times. But what most people don’t realize is that throat drops are a lot more like candy than we think.
Many cough drops contain a lot of added sugar, which can help to ease a sore throat as well as cover up the taste of medicine, but it can wreak havoc on your oral heath. The sugar in these lozenges is just as bad for your teeth as hard candy. Sugar sticks to the plaque on teeth then bacteria in the plaque converts the sugar into acid, which will eat away at tooth enamel.
Of course when you are home sick with the flu, the last thing on your mind is preventative dental care. But taking that extra effort to brush your teeth when you are sick can be crucial to avoiding teeth cavities.
Strangely enough there are a lot of other seemingly harmless things that can damage your teeth when you’re sick, such as:
- Sports Drinks: Another favorite for those battling the flu for the electrolytes but because of all the sugar, your teeth would be much better off if you chose to water.
- Fruit Juices: While they may have lots of vitamins, they also have quite a bit of sugar. Make sure the juice you buy has no added sugar or add water so there isn’t quite as much sugar in each glass.
- Chewing on Ice: Chewing on ice doesn’t have sugar but you could chip or crack your otherwise healthy teeth. It could also irritate the soft tissue within your teeth, causing toothaches.