Maintaining oral hygiene when you are unwell is a concern, especially when the body is focused on fighting off an infection. The answer to whether you should brush your teeth when sick is generally yes, as consistent dental care remains important for overall health. Skipping your routine, even for a few days, allows bacteria to multiply, increasing your risk of developing cavities or gum inflammation. However, specific symptoms require a modification of your standard brushing habit to protect your teeth from damage.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene When Symptoms Are Mild
When dealing with a simple cold, the flu, or general malaise without severe stomach upset, maintaining your twice-daily brushing schedule is recommended. Illness often results in breathing through the mouth, and many cold and flu medications, such as decongestants, can cause dry mouth. Saliva is the mouth’s natural defense, helping neutralize acids and wash away food particles. A reduction in saliva flow allows cavity-causing bacteria to thrive, making the mouth vulnerable to decay.
You can counteract this effect by prioritizing hydration and frequently sipping water throughout the day to encourage saliva production. When selecting throat lozenges or cough drops, choose sugar-free versions, as the sugar content in traditional varieties can coat the teeth and feed bacteria. If your gums or mouth feel sensitive due to illness, switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush and use gentle, circular motions.
Special Care After Vomiting or Acid Reflux
A major exception to immediate brushing occurs if your illness involves vomiting or severe acid reflux. Stomach acid is highly corrosive and potent enough to temporarily soften the hard, protective layer of tooth enamel. Brushing immediately after an episode of vomiting or reflux will mechanically rub this acid into the softened enamel. This action physically scrubs away the mineral structure and significantly accelerates the process of erosion.
Instead of brushing, the first step is to rinse your mouth immediately to neutralize and dilute the acid coating the teeth. Swish thoroughly with plain water or, ideally, a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda mixed into water. Baking soda is alkaline and helps to restore the mouth’s pH balance. You must then delay brushing for a period of 30 to 60 minutes, allowing saliva to naturally remineralize and harden the enamel.
Preventing Cross-Contamination and Re-infection
The primary concern with toothbrush hygiene when sick is the potential for cross-contamination with other people and, less likely, re-infection of yourself. Store your toothbrush away from those of other family members, especially if they share a holder, to avoid the transfer of germs. While the risk of re-infecting yourself with a cold or the flu is low because your immune system has already built antibodies, viruses and bacteria can survive on the moist bristles.
It is a practical measure to replace your toothbrush once you have fully recovered from a highly contagious illness. For instance, replace the brush immediately after episodes of vomiting stop, or within 24 hours of starting antibiotics for a bacterial infection like strep throat. This simple replacement ensures you start your healthy routine with a completely clean tool.