Winter Dental Care Tips

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Winter Dental Care Tips: Surviving Cold and Flu Season

You probably know by now that good oral health can do a lot more for your body than simply provide you with whiter teeth and a more sparkling smile. But did you realize that it can actually have a bearing on your health in the winter, helping you get through those months where a plague of germs puts you at risk during cold and flu season?
Well, here are some tips to help you survive those common winter bugs, and it starts with your oral health.

Replace your toothbrush regularly  –

A toothbrush that’s not clean can be a source of bacteria and germs as it’s put into the mouth. Replace a toothbrush every four months, whether it appears worn out or not to reduce the spread of germs
When you’ve been sick, get a new toothbrush – once you’ve gotten over the cold or flu, you should get a new toothbrush or risk re-infecting yourself every time you clean your teeth

Sanitize your toothbrush – 

any oral health supplies, whether it’s a toothbrush or tools that help with flossing, can be sanitized. When items are damp, put them in the microwave for one minute to kill bacteria that accumulates on them, and this can be accomplished by microwaving brushes for about one minute while they are damp.

The American Dental Association says that toothbrushes should never be shared because this could result in the transmission of body fluids and microorganisms that might cause dangerous infections.