Coughs and sneezes spread diseases…
UncategorisedPosted by: Dental Design 3rd November 2023
What are the impacts of common winter ailments on oral health?
As we enter the season where it can feel like we are saying ‘Bless you!’ more often than the local vicar, it’s a good time to remind patients of some of the oral health implications that suffering from everyday winter illnesses can bring about.
The common cold can affect anyone, though it is more common in children. Adults typically experience an average of 2-3 colds per year, while children experience an average of 5-8 colds per year[1] and about a quarter of all colds are still without proven cause.[2] The constant coughing and sneezing that often comes with a cold together with a blocked nose, can adversely affect the oral cavity as these symptoms can lead to a dry mouth,[3] which reduces saliva flow. As you know, saliva plays a vital role in maintaining oral health by neutralising acids, washing away food particles and fighting bacteria.[4] A dry mouth can increase the risk of tooth decay, gingival disease and bad breath.[5] So, ‘keeping hydrated’ should be the recommendation here for any patients suffering from a cold.
Similarly, the flu can have negative effects on oral care too. The high fever associated with the flu can lead to dehydration – again which affects the production of saliva – and some flu medications, such as antihistamines, can cause dry mouth as a side effect.[6] Disruptions in saliva secretion increase the frequency of oral conditions such as oral candidiasis, gingival disease and caries, as well as respiratory tract infections.[7] Again, it is crucial to stay hydrated.
Beware, however, of the lure of the lemon drink. A common home remedy for colds and flu – often with a spoonful of honey – while effective it can sometimes cause tooth sensitivity. Lemon juice is highly acidic and honey contains a lot of sugar: both can cause damage to the tooth enamel resulting in increased sensitivity and less protection against decay. Cough sweets can also be high in sugar and their stickiness can mean this sugar will remain on teeth longer. Sugar-free versions will help protect your patients’ teeth more.
Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis, are rife in the winter months. Affecting the lungs and airways, consistent coughing can often lead to a sore throat, which can be a breeding ground for pathogens.[8] It is therefore essential for patients to maintain their regular oral hygiene routine to help keep their oral cavity clean and reduce the risk of infection. Indeed, neglecting oral care while feeling under the weather, though tempting, is a definite no-no.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, often caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Common symptoms include facial pain, nasal congestion and a headache.[9] Dental teams are probably familiar with this illness as it can sometimes lead to toothache of non-dental origin where the pain is mistakenly perceived as a dental issue.[10] Patients attending might find this a confusing diagnosis so reassurance from the dental team is vital.
One after-effect of the Coronavirus pandemic is that many patients now question if they’re well enough to attend their dental appointments if they are not feeling 100%. However, some patients who are recovering from a cold or flu infection might still present at the practice, not realising that they remain infectious (and therefore risk passing their illness onto the dental team and other patients). Handwashing is the single most important, simplest and least expensive means of reducing the prevalence of healthcare associated infections.[11] And while that may seem like an obvious reminder, one study evaluating hand hygiene behaviour (during the initial weeks of the pandemic) found that 83% of people do not practice proper hand hygiene.[12]
Despite dental practices being incredibly clean places due to their sanitised nature, pathogens can still be spread through the various hand-touch sites such as door handles and equipment. Initial Medical works with dental teams to provide practical solutions for keeping these harmful microorganisms under control. In addition to its core range of hand sanitisers in dispensers, it also offers UltraProtect™, an alcohol-free hand sanitiser. Available in both a foam and gel option, it is powerful (killing 99.99% of pathogens including MRSA) and long lasting, offering eight hours of protection.. It is also dermatologically approved to not dry out or crack the skin.
Overall, winter illnesses can have significant implications for oral health. By understanding the potential oral health risks associated with common winter ailments, both patients and dental professionals can take appropriate preventive measures. Maintaining good oral hygiene practices, staying hydrated and practising good hand hygiene can all help to safeguard oral health during the winter months.
To find out more, get in touch at 0808 304 7411 or visit the website today www.initial.co.uk/medical.
About Initial Medical
Initial Medical set the standard in healthcare and infectious waste management in the UK, providing a reliable, effective and fully compliant service built around customer needs and delivered by our highly trained local teams. We are ISO 9001:2015 accredited, with technology fully integrated into our operations, providing full traceability of service delivery, electronic waste documentation and the best customer experience possible. We also offer innovative healthcare waste management services and infection control products, to help break the chain of transmission and prevent cross contamination.
Initial Medical are a company with a ‘World Class’ Health and Safety record, and ISO 45001:2018 accreditation. We are also accredited to ISO 14001:2015 environmental standards, and pride ourselves on our sustainable approach with a focus on delivering eco-friendly products and operational solutions.
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For more information, please contact:
01227 265700
Rebecca Waters, Category Manager, Initial Medical
Rebecca has worked in the Healthcare sector for the past 17years and was a Research Chemist with Bayer Cropscience prior to joining Rentokil Initial in 2003. She keeps up to date on all developments within the clinical waste management industry and is an active member of the CIWM, SMDSA and BDIA.
[1] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/common-cold/background-information/prevalence/ [Accessed August 2023]
[2] Heikkinen T, Järvinen A. The common cold. Lancet. 2003 Jan 4;361(9351):51-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12162-9. PMID: 12517470; PMCID: PMC7112468. [Accessed August 2023]
[3] NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dry-mouth/
[4] Tiwari M. Science behind human saliva. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2011 Jan;2(1):53-8. doi: 10.4103/0976-9668.82322. PMID: 22470235; PMCID: PMC3312700. [Accessed August 2023]
[5] Ngo Di Ying Joanna, William Murray Thomson, Dry mouth – An overview, Singapore Dental Journal, Volume 36, 2015, Pages 12-17, ISSN 0377-5291, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdj.2014.12.001.
[6] NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antihistamines/
[7] Vila T, Rizk AM, Sultan AS, Jabra-Rizk MA. The power of saliva: Antimicrobial and beyond. PLoS Pathog. 2019 Nov 14;15(11):e1008058. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008058. PMID: 31725797; PMCID: PMC6855406.
[8] Kenealy T. Sore throat. BMJ Clin Evid. 2014 Mar 4;2014:1509. PMID: 24589314; PMCID: PMC3948435. [Accessed August 2023]
[9] NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/ [Accessed August 2023]
[10] Soni A Toothache of Non-Dental Origin: A Review of its Mechanism and Clinical Characteristics May 2018DOI: 10.17354/ijss/2018/140 [Accessed August 2023]
[11] Mathur P. Hand hygiene: back to the basics of infection control. Indian J Med Res. 2011 Nov;134(5):611-20. doi: 10.4103/0971-5916.90985. PMID: 22199099; PMCID: PMC3249958.
[12] Lawson A, Cameron R, Vaganay-Miller M. An Evaluation of the Hand Hygiene Behaviour and Compliance of the General Public When Using Public Restrooms in Northern Ireland (NI) during the Initial Weeks of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 12;18(12):6385. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18126385. PMID: 34204779; PMCID: PMC8296206.
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