It starts with a tickle in your throat. By the next day, you've got a stuffy nose and body aches. And it feels like you've swallowed sandpaper. After a test concluding the virus you caught is only a cold, loading up on cough medicine and nasal decongestants might be your first instinct. But it would help if you also prioritized measures to relieve conditions resulting from your cold that might affect your teeth and your overall oral health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults get two to three colds per year on average, each lasting between seven and 10 days. It's important to know how to care for yourself properly so you can ease symptoms, such as nasal congestion, and avoid cold complications, like dry mouth and sinusitis. And the steps you take to safeguard your mouth can help you feel better faster. So, what connects a cold, your teeth, and your oral health?