Don’t Neglect Your Oral Health This Allergy Season

When you are suffering from allergies, it is hard to think about anything else. Just concentrating on what you are doing at one specific time is difficult enough, but thinking about other areas of your health takes a great deal of intentionality. At Gwinnett Family Dental Care, we understand how miserable you can feel during allergy season. Still, we also know that neglecting your oral health during this time can lead to irreversible damage to your smile.

Allergies can cause a host of problems related to your oral health. Dry mouth, an overabundance of harmful bacteria, a sore throat, and unwanted side effects from medications can negatively impact even the healthiest smile in a very short amount of time.

Dry mouth is a side effect of many over-the-counter and prescription drugs. While dry mouth can be very uncomfortable, it also causes the mouth to become a breeding ground for bacteria. There are millions of oral bacteria inside the mouth every day, yet saliva helps wash these bacteria away and keeps them from clinging to the teeth. If the mouth is dry, bacteria will quickly and easily adhere to the teeth and eat away at the tooth enamel. Bacteria will also cause inflammation in the gum tissues, which can cause gingivitis and gum disease if left untreated.

Saliva is probably the most undervalued aspect of oral health. Most people do not give much thought to their “spit,” yet it is incredibly important. One way to combat the adverse effects of a dry mouth is to drink more water. While this may seem obvious, most people do not consume adequate amounts of water when they are healthy, let alone when they are sick. It is vital to drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of water a day; drink more when you are sick.

Another trick to help you battle allergies without neglecting your oral health is to gargle with salt water twice a day. Saltwater will help draw mucus out of the sinuses while also helping to eliminate the harmful bacteria inside your mouth.

It is also crucial to maintain proper oral health care. Floss daily and brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep your smile healthy. It is easy to neglect things when you do not feel well, but you should never neglect your oral health.

Contact Gwinnett Family Dental Care to learn more. We are here for you.