How the Common Cold Can Impact Your Oral Health

As the colder months begin to approach, people around the nation are gearing up for that inevitable fight with the common cold. Though most people know how the common cold can impact their sinuses, many are less familiar with how it can impact their oral health.

So, how can a cold impact your oral health and what can you do about it?

Tooth Pain

A particularly bad cold can potentially lead to tooth pain. This is because your largest sinus cavity sits right above your upper jaw. As such, when it begins to fill with liquid during a cold, quite a bit of pressure will begin to build on the roots of your teeth – leading to a toothache. This toothache can usually be helped by taking some over-the-counter painkillers, but if it becomes particularly painful then a trip to the dentist may be required.

Bad Breath

The common cold will usually lead to post nasal drip collecting in the back of your mouth. This excess mucus then becomes the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of bad breath-causing bacteria. You should remember to drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth with mouthwash to reduce or eliminate your bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Because the common cold often stops you from breathing through your nose, you will be forced to breathe through your mouth instead. This will inevitably lead to a drying out of your mouth. However, your mouth needs saliva in order to remain healthy and fight tooth decay. As such, you should try to drink plenty of fluids to help your mouth to continue producing the saliva that it needs.

Sore Throat

Patients dealing with the common cold often end up dealing with a sore throat too. You may be able to reduce the pain by taking some over-the-counter painkillers or by sucking on a lozenge.

Though fighting with a cold is never a fun time, you can better prepare yourself for the inevitable by knowing what to expect. After all, your oral health is important, so you should do everything that you can to protect it. Of course, if things get particularly bad, you can always pay a visit to your dentist or oral hygienist to ask for their professional advice.

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