I am proud to say that I have all my own teeth at the age of 65. While that may not sound unusual to some people, everyone in my family who is my age or older wears dentures. I always tell people that that flossing is the key to good dental health. I have arthritis in my hands, but I don't let it keep me from flossing every day. My trick is to use those little "flossers" you can buy at the drug store. They have plastic handles floss stretched out on top of the handle. These make flossing easier on days when my arthritis is acting up. I started this blog to let other people know that they can keep their teeth healthy into old age when they take care of them. If you have hand pain, find ways to make flossing easier, like I did.
Don't Let Hand Pain Keep You from Flossing
How To Maintain Oral Hygiene When You'Re Sick
Francis Miles
Whether you've got the flu or you're recovering from surgery, taking care of your teeth and gums is probably the last thing on your mind when you're not feeling well. However, it's important to maintain good oral hygiene always, even when you're under the weather. If you're looking for a way to take care of your mouth without ending up exhausted while sick, give these three tips a try.
Electric Toothbrush
Using an electric toothbrush is always a good idea, as they've been shown to remove more plaque and bacteria. However, they're especially useful while you're sick.
Electric toothbrushes do most of the work of brushing your teeth for you. Depending on the model of toothbrush you pick up, the bristles will either spin or rapidly move back and forth. If you're so sick that just lifting an arm feels like a chore, you must have an electric toothbrush. Simply gliding the brush across your teeth will do a good job of removing a day's worth of plaque and bacteria, and it'll prevent you from having to move your arm more than you have to.
Water Flosser
Water flossers are another great way of keeping your teeth clean. Depending on what your illness or injury is, flossing can be both exhausting or even nauseating. If you have a stomach bug, for example, chances are the last thing you want to do is put your fingers in your mouth to carefully floss your teeth.
In times like these, a water flosser does a great job. Like an electric toothbrush, all you have to do is guide the water flosser across your teeth and gums. The long handle on most water flossers will prevent you from having to put your fingers in your mouth, and the job will be done as soon as the water runs out.
Rinse After Medicine or Being Sick
Lastly, keep in mind that being sick can make you have more tooth and gum problems than usual. Liquid medicine often contains sugar, which can increase your plaque development. If you're sick to your stomach, the acid that comes up with vomit can be very harmful to tooth enamel.
It's a good idea to simply take the time to rinse your mouth if you've consumed anything or been sick recently. It'll help to wash away excessive amounts of sugar and acid until you can safely brush your teeth. This will help to reduce your risk of getting a cavity or developing gum disease while you're sick.
Taking care of your teeth might not be something you feel like doing while you're ill, but it's still a necessity. With these tips, it should be easier for you, and you won't have to worry about a newly developed cavity after you're finally well. Contact a clinic, like Treman & Treman Family Dental Care, for more help.
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