Looking after your mouth when unwell
Rinsing with water after being sick is a sensible step. For long-lasting pregnancy sickness or an eating disorder, dentist guidance also suggests not brushing then (weak evidence). Ask a pharmacist for sugar-free syrups.
On this page
A cold, a stomach bug or flu rarely leaves much energy for your teeth. A few things during an illness can still affect your mouth: being sick, a dry mouth, and the sweet syrups and lozenges that come with a cough.
Keeping up the basics
Brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, spitting out afterwards rather than rinsing, and cleaning between your teeth every day is the NHS advice for preventing tooth decay. If you feel too unwell to manage all of that, do what you can and return to your usual routine as soon as you feel better.
If mouth ulcers make your mouth sore, the NHS suggests a soft-bristled toothbrush.
After you have been sick
Vomiting brings stomach acid into the mouth, and acid can wear away tooth enamel. The NHS says, on its bulimia page, that stomach acid can damage enamel if someone is being sick a lot. Government guidance for dentists lists repeated vomiting among the sources of acid linked to tooth wear.
Both the NHS and that guidance mention rinsing your mouth with water after vomiting. They were written with people who are sick often in mind. None of the pages used for this guide gives separate advice for one bout of illness, so treat the rinse as a sensible step rather than a rule. It is different from brushing, when you spit and do not rinse.
For people with long-lasting pregnancy sickness or an eating disorder, the government guidance goes further. In its list of possible actions for people with signs of tooth wear, it suggests avoiding brushing after vomiting and rinsing with water. It then suggests either rubbing fluoride toothpaste over your teeth with a finger or using a fluoride mouthwash. The guidance says the evidence behind this advice is weak.
For people recovering from bulimia, the same NHS page also advises avoiding acidic food and drink, such as fruit juice, after purging.
Does it matter when you brush?
None of the sources gives a number of minutes to wait, and none offers a rule that covers every case.
| Source | Advice | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| NHS | Rinse with water or a non-acidic mouthwash after vomiting | People recovering from bulimia |
| Government guidance for dentists | Avoid brushing after vomiting, rinse with water. The guidance rates the evidence as weak | People with long-lasting pregnancy sickness or an eating disorder who have signs of tooth wear |
| Same guidance, toothbrushing advice | No strong evidence that when you brush makes much difference | Managing tooth wear |
If you are unsure what to do, ask your dentist.
Sugar in syrups, sweets and drinks
Illness often means sipping and sucking sweet things. Tooth decay is often caused by too much sugary food and drink, according to the NHS, which also lists sugar-free medicines among the ways to help prevent it.
Government guidance adds that liquid, chewable or soluble medicines, on prescription or bought over the counter, can contain sugar. It notes that liquid medicines are often taken for common conditions, including coughs and colds. For medicines bought over the counter, it suggests parents ask a pharmacist whether a sugar-free version is available for their child.
The NHS says a pharmacist can advise on cough syrup, cough medicine and cough sweets, so that is a good person to ask about sugar-free options. If a medicine contains sugar, do not stop taking it for that reason. Ask your pharmacist or GP about a sugar-free version instead.
Dry mouth
Being ill can leave your mouth dry. The NHS lists dehydration, including from being ill, among the main causes of a dry mouth. Some medicines can cause it too, so the leaflet that comes with yours is worth reading. A dry mouth also makes tooth decay more likely.
To ease it, the NHS suggests regular sips of cold water through the day, water by your bed at night, and cold unsweetened drinks. A pharmacist can suggest gels, sprays, tablets or lozenges, though not every product suits everyone.
If you think a prescribed medicine is the cause, speak to your GP. The NHS says not to stop a prescribed medicine until you have had medical advice, even if you suspect it is the cause.
A sore mouth or mouth ulcers
Mouth ulcers are common and usually clear up on their own within a week or two, according to the NHS. To ease one, it suggests cool drinks through a straw, softer foods, and avoiding very spicy, salty or acidic food. It also advises avoiding toothpaste that contains sodium lauryl sulphate. A pharmacist can recommend treatments you can buy without a prescription.
If you are sick often, or have reflux
Being sick often, or having regular acid reflux, is worth raising with a doctor as well as your dentist. Government guidance for dentists says medical advice, or referral to a GP, should be considered for reflux and for eating disorders. Our guide to health conditions and your teeth covers reflux and eating disorders too.
Sometimes being sick is tied to how someone feels about food or their body. The NHS describes bulimia as an eating disorder and a serious mental health condition that can affect anyone, and says people can recover from it. It says a GP will listen and help, and can refer you to a specialist, and it names charities such as Beat that offer support. The NHS also advises seeing your dentist regularly. Government guidance for dentists acknowledges that conversations about the causes of tooth wear can be sensitive and can take time.
If you are worried about someone else, the NHS suggests encouraging them to speak to their GP. If you or someone you know needs help now, the NHS explains where to get urgent help for mental health.
Dental appointments when you are unwell
If you have a high temperature, or feel too unwell for your normal day, the NHS advises staying at home and away from other people where you can. If that is you on the day of an appointment, phone your practice. The practice’s cancellation terms apply, and you can read them in our terms.
A high temperature with toothache, or with a swollen face or jaw, can be a sign of a dental abscess. The NHS says a dental abscess needs urgent treatment by a dentist and will not go away on its own. Say so when you phone. If you cannot get an urgent dental appointment, the NHS says to call 111 or use 111 online. A GP surgery cannot give dental treatment for it.
Our emergency dentist page covers toothache that keeps you awake, a broken tooth, facial swelling and a lost crown.
When to see a dentist or your GP
Some of these go to a GP first, as the NHS pages say.
- a mouth ulcer lasts longer than 3 weeks, looks different from ones you have had before, or bleeds or becomes more painful and red (a dentist or GP)
- you have a dry mouth and it is also painful, red, swollen or bleeding, or has sore white patches (a GP)
- your mouth is still dry after a few weeks of home or pharmacy treatments, or you think a prescribed medicine is causing it (a GP)
- you are sick often, or have regular reflux (a GP, as well as your dentist)
- being sick is tied up with worries about food or your body (a GP)
- your teeth feel sensitive or look different after a spell of being sick often (your dental team)
If you think you may have a dental abscess, ask for an urgent dentist appointment or get help from NHS 111, as above. For the signs below, which can go with a dental abscess, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E.
- you find it hard to breathe, speak or swallow
- your eye is swollen or painful, or your eyesight suddenly changes
- there is a lot of swelling in your mouth
- you find it hard to open your mouth
What we would do
If you are new to us and worried about your teeth or mouth after an illness, a new patient exam is a sensible first step. If you already see us, mention it at your next check-up. The exam covers your teeth, gums and soft tissues and includes an oral cancer screening, with small X-rays where needed. Tell us what has been going on, so we know what to look at.
A dental hygiene appointment removes plaque and tartar and includes professional advice on your own brushing and flossing routine. Medicines, reflux and other health questions are for your GP or pharmacist.
If something in your mouth has not recovered since you were ill, book a check-up.
Want us to take a look?
Book an appointment at whichever of our five practices suits you. We will check what is going on and talk you through your options.
Questions this guide answers
Should I brush my teeth straight after being sick?
The UK guidance we read gives no time to wait. Government guidance for dentists suggests that people with long-lasting pregnancy sickness or an eating disorder avoid brushing after vomiting and rinse with water instead, and says the evidence is weak. If you are unsure, ask your dentist.
Are cough syrups and sweets bad for my teeth?
Government guidance says liquid, chewable and soluble medicines can contain sugar, and the NHS says tooth decay is often caused by too much sugary food and drink. A pharmacist can advise on cough syrup and sweets, including sugar-free options.
Should I cancel my dental appointment if I have a cold or fever?
The NHS says to try to stay at home and avoid other people if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for your normal activities. If that is you, phone your practice, whose cancellation terms apply. Mention any toothache or facial swelling.
Why does my mouth feel so dry when I am ill?
The NHS lists dehydration, including from being ill, and some medicines as main causes of a dry mouth. Regular sips of cold water can help. The NHS says not to stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice, even if you suspect it is the cause.
