{"id":227,"date":"2022-11-14T17:50:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T17:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hamptonsbeachdental.com\/blog\/?p=227"},"modified":"2022-12-07T17:50:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T17:50:40","slug":"tooth-protection-child-during-cold-and-flu-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hamptonsbeachdental.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/14\/tooth-protection-child-during-cold-and-flu-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Tooth Protection for Your Child During Cold and Flu Season"},"content":{"rendered":"
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No one enjoys getting sick, least of all children. However, with as many surfaces as children touch in a day, it\u2019s only a matter of time before yours catches the flu or a cold, especially this time of year. You may not be able to prevent them from getting sick entirely, but you can limit the impact their illness has on their smile. Keep reading to understand how getting sick could put your child\u2019s teeth in danger and what you can do to protect them this cold and flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Risks to Your Child\u2019s Smile When They\u2019re Sick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being exposed to harmful bacteria in their mouth, getting the flu or even a simple cold can put your child\u2019s teeth at risk of a cavity. Here are just a few of the many ways that these illnesses can mess with their oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouth Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your child has a stuffy nose, they tend to breath in and out of their mouth. Unfortunately, this tends to dry out the mouth, allowing decay-causing bacteria to thrive and stick to teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relaxed Routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When some people get sick, they might skip certain parts of their normal routine, but brushing and flossing teeth are two steps that just can\u2019t be dropped! When your child doesn\u2019t brush and floss, sticky, white film called plaque builds up, hardens, and eats away the protective enamel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugary Remedies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As comforting and soothing as cough drops and warm honey can feel on a hurting throat, these solutions introduce sugar to your child\u2019s mouth. Certain bacteria feed on this sugar to produce acids that erode the tooth enamel, eventually leading to decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Protect Your Child\u2019s Teeth This Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want to avoid having to deal with a cavity or two on top of your child getting sick, you need to do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n