Zika Virus And Bedridden? 4 Ways To Keep Your Teeth Healthy While You Are Recovering

If you have the Zika virus, you may be bedridden, as it can cause temporary paralysis. If this is you, it will make it difficult to take care of your teeth. Fortunately, there are things you can do to ensure your teeth stay healthy. Keep reading and you won't have to worry about any problems with your teeth so you can concentrate on getting better.

Rinse Your Teeth

If you will be eating in bed, you need to rinse your mouth out each time you finish. Take a drink of water and swish it forcefully around inside your mouth. This will loosen up any food that may be stuck between your teeth. Simply drink the water when you finish swishing, or you can spit it out. Do this a few times to ensure you get all the food out.

Avoid Acidic and Sugary Foods

Acidic foods will damage your teeth if you do not brush and floss regularly. Because of this, avoid eating food that has high levels of acids. This includes things like nuts, sodas, many fruits, and salt. If you consume these foods or drinks, rinse you mouth out with water immediately after you finish. This will also rinse sugar that may be on your teeth.

Brush Your Teeth from Bed

You can use a dry toothbrush to brush your teeth from bed. This will help remove some of the plaque.  A study found that patients who brushed their teeth using a dry toothbrush with no toothpaste had a 67% drop in plaque on their back teeth.  Ask your dentist on the best type of toothbrush to use for dry brushing.

Chew Gum

You can still have that minty fresh taste in your mouth after dry brushing by chewing on a piece of mint, sugar-free gum.  This not only makes your breath smell good, but will also make your teeth healthy. This is because you produce saliva when you chew, and saliva is needed to fight germs in your mouth.

When you first become sick, you should consider seeing your dentist to have dental sealants put on your teeth before you become bedridden, if possible. This will protect your teeth from plaque and bacteria. This will reduce the risk of tooth decay and cavities while you are recovering.  As soon as you are better again, make sure you make an appointment with your dentist to have your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist.