Your Teeth Don’t Know It’s a Cough Drop

October tends to put a little more candy within reach. Then someone catches a cold, and the cough drops come out, too. If those cough drops contain sugar, your teeth are getting another sugary treat, even though you’re using it for a sore throat.

It’s the sugar, and how long it sticks around

The American Dental Association recommends choosing sugar-free cough drops. When you slowly dissolve a sugary drop in your mouth, bacteria have more time to feed on that sugar and produce acids that can damage your teeth.

With Halloween candy, how often you reach for it counts, too. The ADA’s Halloween guide suggests enjoying candy with a meal or shortly afterward. Eating gets saliva flowing, which helps wash away food and acids.

Cold medicine can leave your mouth dry, too

Some cold and allergy medicines can cause dry mouth. That can feel uncomfortable, but there’s another reason to pay attention: saliva helps wash away food and protect your teeth. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, ongoing dry mouth increases the risk of tooth decay.

Keep water nearby, choose sugar-free cough drops when appropriate, and try to keep up your usual brushing and flossing routine while you’re sick. If your mouth stays dry or the dryness bothers you, talk with your dentist or clinician. They can help you figure out what’s causing it and what might help.

Your dental benefit can help with prevention

If dental coverage is part of your BHT benefits, fall is a good time to check when you’re due for a routine visit.

BHT’s Delta Dental plans have a useful feature: covered routine cleanings, exams, and X-rays don’t count against your annual plan maximum. That helps keep your benefit available for other covered treatment you might need.

Before booking, use your Delta Dental account to check which services are covered and how often you can receive them. You can also check whether your dentist is in the Preferred network, which can lower your share of the cost.

BHT’s October toolkit includes a dental benefit flyer and a Cold & Flu Cabinet Check you can use as you review your household’s supplies.