{"id":135,"date":"2024-12-13T23:37:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T23:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drlindasteele.com\/blog\/?p=135"},"modified":"2025-01-31T23:40:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T23:40:09","slug":"kids-dental-cold-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drlindasteele.com\/blog\/kids-dental-cold-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold and Flu Season Is Here! Here\u2019s How to Keep Your Kid\u2019s Teeth Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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During the winter months, people tend to spend more time indoors so they can keep warm and avoid the rain or snow outside. Unfortunately, indoor environments can expose people to many more germs and much more allergenic debris than the outdoors, which can make them more likely to develop colds and other respiratory infections. Here\u2019s a brief guide to how you can keep your child\u2019s dental health<\/a> on track during cold and flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Keep Hygiene Spaces Sanitary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regular brushing and flossing are essential to ensuring that your child has healthy teeth for life, but it can be a little too easy to neglect cleaning the area around the sink where they perform their oral hygiene. Thoroughly cleaning the area to eliminate soap scum, grime, and other lingering debris can help reduce the bacterial presence in your child\u2019s oral hygiene space. It\u2019s also a great idea to periodically treat the surfaces there with antibacterial wipes between cleanings to prevent new accumulations from forming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Sure Your Kid Washes Their Hands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People touch a lot of stuff with their hands, and many of these surfaces are not in the cleanest condition. Many doorknobs come into contact with countless hands on any given day, and many keyboards are less clean than the average public toilet seat. Teaching your child to wash their hands regularly is a great way to help them avoid germ exposure and establish proper hygiene habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hydration Is Crucial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Water is essential to all known forms of life, and it plays many key roles in a person\u2019s oral health by ensuring that the body can maintain healthy saliva flow. However, it can be harder to remember to drink enough water during the winter since it isn\u2019t hot outside. Making sure that your child drinks plenty of water throughout the day can help them keep their teeth clean and their immune system strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cold or the flu can cause a lot of frustration and misery. By taking a few measures to ensure that your child remains safe from germs during their oral hygiene sessions, you can set them up for a lifetime of excellent oral and overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Linda Steele earned her dental degree at Baylor College of Dentistry and underwent a pediatric residency at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital. She is proud to be a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as well as a member of the American Dental Association. Her office in Coppell offers general, restorative, and emergency dentistry for children of all ages. To learn more about keeping your kid\u2019s teeth healthy, contact her office online<\/a> or dial (972) 640-7432<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the winter months, people tend to spend more time indoors so they can keep warm and avoid the rain or snow outside. Unfortunately, indoor environments can expose people to many more germs and much more allergenic debris than the outdoors, which can make them more likely to develop colds and other respiratory infections. Here\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Can I Protect My Child's Smile? | Dr. Linda Steele<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Keeping your kid healthy can be difficult during cold and flu season. 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