The last thing any of us want to deal with in the middle of winter is cold and flu season. Getting knocked down with a virus throws a wrench in any plans. Being sick slows down our momentum and goals and makes it difficult to uphold our New Year’s resolutions. As the dentist Ballwin residents go to for their preventative dentistry and oral health needs, we thought this would be a great time to talk about how to prevent spreading germs while protecting your health and others.
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Fight Off Germs with Great Oral Hygiene
- The flu virus is contagious and spreads through coughs, saliva, and sneezes.
- Flu symptoms take a few days to appear once a person has contracted the flu virus.
- Various types of flu strains exist.
- The flu is most prevalent during the colder months of the year. Typically, the season runs from October to March, but it isn’t uncommon to get the flu in the summer months, too.
- The flu virus can live on hard surfaces for nearly 2 days. It can survive on clothing for 12 hours.
When caring for yourself or a loved one who has the flu, wash your hands often. It is also important to keep surfaces and areas that are shared with others clean. Wipe down door handles and remote controls. Keep phones, computers, and tablets clean with microfiber towels and only use with clean hands. Be mindful when doing laundry to wash your hands after handling clothes carrying the virus.
Common facts about the flu
Oral Hygiene
We are susceptible to germs through our mouths, noses, and eyes. As our Ballwin dentist recommends, we brush and floss our teeth daily. This healthy habit shouldn’t change; especially when we are sick. Bacteria loves to grow in our mouths; brushing and flossing keeps bacteria from infecting us. A clean mouth can help give our oral health needs the protection necessary to fight off a virus.
Germs and your toothbrush
There are varying opinions on whether or not you should replace your toothbrush after you have been sick with a cold or flu. On one hand, you are unlikely to become infected again with the same virus as your immune system will have figured out a way to fight off the illness. However, our Ballwin dentist does recommend replacing your toothbrush 3-4 times each year. A good reason to change out your toothbrush is to prevent others from coming into contact with your germs. If you store your toothbrush next to someone else’s, your germs can end up in their mouth and vice versa. Store brushes away from each other; and wash your hands before brushing and flossing.
Staying healthy during the flu season calls for a lot of hand washing and smart choices. Be mindful of your oral health needs and make sure to eat a well-balanced diet with the vitamins and minerals your bones, teeth, and body need to remain in good health. Learn more about our how you can protect your health and your smile on our Facebook page and call us if you have any questions.
If stuffing is on your menu for the next few holiday dinners, consider preparing it with apples, carrots, or celery. Not only will these keep your stuffing moist, which is softer for your teeth and needs less of your saliva to send through your digestive system, but they add vitamins and nutrients to support your health. Vitamins A and C support your immune system, saliva production, and digestion.
Happy Autumn from your Ballwin dentist team! As the weather changes and our schedules fill up with activities, it’s important to stay on top of your health and safety. Keeping a routine for your oral health, hydration, and safety will help your body run smoothly and minimize emergency dentist or doctor visits. Here are a few important reminders to stay on track and treat your body well this fall.
Acute tooth pain is centralized to a specific area for less than six months, and chronic tooth pain lasts longer. If you feel either, let’s identify and treat it immediately. Cavities can show up as a toothache. A decayed root canal can cause severe pain. Our experienced Ballwin dentist office team treats all tooth pain.
Our Ballwin dentist and the ADA agree that the recommended length of time to brush is for at least two minutes, twice a day. If this sounds like longer than your typical brushing session, consider buying an electric toothbrush that times you. You can also brush each quadrant for at least thirty seconds. Find a song you enjoy at least two minutes long, and play it when you brush your teeth. If the kids need some assistance, there are some great apps that can help them brush the full length of time.
Everyone can have a beautiful smile. After all, only a small percentage of people actually require little to no assistance with their smile. Teeth whitening procedures brighten smiles, braces straighten teeth, and cosmetic dentistry gives Ballwin dentist patients new smiles. A great smile significantly impacts your life. People look younger with a healthy smile, feel better about themselves, and have more confidence among their peers and co-workers.
Veneers are a wonderful solution when you experience the following with your smile: Stained or discolored teeth that don’t respond with normal teeth whitening services Gaps between teeth Chipped or fractured teeth Teeth that are uneven Aside from the above reasons, our Ballwin dentist can instruct you on how our veneers even out your smile and make it look great day after day.
Your smile is your own signature; the first thing people notice about you and a way for them to learn more about you. As the dentist Ballwin patients have trusted for their preventative dentistry and oral health needs, talk to us about your smile and teeth whitening procedures. Do you want whiter teeth? Is your smile as bright as it could be? What do you do to protect and maintain your smile? There are many things you may do on a daily basis that compromise your smile without you knowing. So, if you find yourself wishing for whiter teeth, schedule an appointment with our Ballwin dentist. You can also keep the following tips in mind:
One of the first ways to get started on your resolution is to just pick up the phone. Schedule a consultation with our Ballwin dentist. Talk with us about your smile and what you’d like to change. While basic dental insurance plans cover dental examinations and other preventative dentistry measures, you may be surprised to learn that certain restorative dental services are available to you, too. After calling our office, call your insurance provider. We work with your dental insurance companies on a daily basis to help you get your new smile.
The short answer is not so much due to the amount of sugar used to sweeten the pumpkin. However, with that in mind, there are some great benefits to our oral health found in pumpkins. Adding whipped cream to the top of your slice doesn’t help, but a little dollop used sparingly isn’t that awful, provided you brush and floss regularly. Brushing your teeth and flossing after eating sweets is essential to reducing your risk of cavities and tooth decay. We also recommend visiting your Ballwin dentist for regular checkups to ensure your smile is in good order.
Happy Halloween from your Ballwin dentist team! We know many of you are gearing up for a night of tricks and treats and wish you a safe, fun time. Halloween is one of the oldest holidays and truly a great time for laughter and entertainment. While customs vary from city to city, one constant remains the same: candy! So, we would be remiss to let the day go by without reminding you and your children about your oral health.