KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HYDRATED
Having your kids drink lots of water while they’re at home is one of the best things you could do for them. When their nose is running, making it hard to even take a breath, they’re likely breathing through their mouth while asleep. To keep their mouth from getting dried out, it’s important they drink enough H20. It helps flush out toxins from the body and keeps them hydrated, but it also helps keep their saliva glands functional. An extra bonus is, they can continue to wash away bad bacteria that will try to wreak havoc on their teeth and gums.
CONTINUE TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH
No matter how old your child is, you of course make sure they’re brushing their teeth. Kids don’t always do what’s best for themselves and may not want to, but it’s important they remove bacteria and harmful particles from their mouth each and every night. If they don’t feel like getting out of bed, that’s okay! You can help them brush right in bed while offering a glass of water and a spit cup. This will help to keep their teeth and gums free of anything that might try to start cavities or cause an additional infection.
CONSIDER THEIR TOOTHBRUSH
Dr. Abazari recommends that their toothbrush be replaced with a new one after any type of cold or virus. The reason of course is that germs can live within the bristles long after your child is feeling better. To keep from them getting sick over and over again, it’s best to throw out the old brush and let your child pick out a new brush. In fact, most younger children love to having the choice to pick a new brush. Don’t have the time to buy a new brush that week? That’s ok! As a stop gap, you can boil the toothbrush to help eliminate many of the germs. But keep in mind during this flu season to keep your child’s brush away from others in the house to stop the spread of their illness.