Can you go to the dentist when you’re ill? Colds, flu, cold sores and when to reschedule

During dental treatment your mouth stays open for a long time and you need to breathe mostly through your nose. If your nose is completely blocked this can be uncomfortable, and frequent coughing and sneezing mean the procedure has to be paused. So while a check-up, a scale and polish or a small filling is usually fine, it may be more comfortable to postpone a long procedure such as root canal treatment for a few days.

• Call the clinic before your appointment, explain how you are, and decide together.
• Wearing a mask in the waiting area protects other patients.
• Bring tissues, and agree on a hand signal for when you need a break.
• If you use a decongestant nasal spray on your pharmacist’s advice, tell your dentist.

During an illness with a fever your body is tired; sitting in the chair for a long time, keeping your mouth open and recovering afterwards can all be harder. Dental instruments also create a spray of water and air, so respiratory infections can pass more easily to other patients and the team. That is why planned treatment is done once you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine and feel generally well. To postpone, simply let the clinic know.

It’s advisable to postpone planned dental treatment while you have a blistering or open cold sore on your lip. Stretching the lips during treatment can irritate the sore, slow healing and make it easier for the virus to spread to other areas. Once the cold sore has crusted over and healed, usually within 1–2 weeks, treatment can go ahead safely. If something can’t wait, such as pain, the dentist will take the necessary precautions and treat you.

Cold sores appear on the outer edge of the lip and are contagious. Mouth ulcers, which appear inside the mouth on the cheek or inner lip, are not contagious and usually don’t stop treatment. We explain the difference in mouth ulcers.

Tell your dentist about any painkillers, fever reducers, decongestants and antibiotics you are taking for your illness. Some decongestant cold remedies can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, which is important to know when planning local anaesthesia. If you are already taking an antibiotic, whether you need anything further for your tooth is assessed with that in mind. For more, see antibiotics for toothache and which painkiller is best for toothache.

If you have toothache or swelling in your gum or cheek, being ill is not a reason to put off treatment; call the clinic and describe what is happening. Sometimes the tooth itself is the source of the fever; we explain this in can a toothache cause a fever. On the other hand, an ache in the upper back teeth during a cold or sinusitis often comes from the sinuses and eases as the illness passes; see can sinusitis cause toothache.

• Keep brushing twice a day while you are ill.
• Most throat lozenges and syrups contain sugar; choose sugar-free ones where possible and rinse your mouth with water afterwards.
• Don’t brush straight after vomiting; stomach acid temporarily softens enamel. Rinse with water first and wait about half an hour before brushing. See dental erosion.
• Breathing through your mouth dries it out; drink water often. See dry mouth.
• If your toothbrush is old, replace it once you have recovered. See how often to replace your toothbrush.

If you need to postpone your appointment because you are ill, just call or WhatsApp Dent32. If you have pain or swelling, mention it, and we will plan the most suitable time together based on your situation.

Dent32 is at Barış Mah., Ginza Lavinya, E-5 Yanyolu No:30 D:179, 34520 Beylikdüzü, Istanbul and is open seven days a week. To book, call or WhatsApp +90 555 011 33 68, or use our contact page. At the examination we share the findings, the options and the approximate cost in writing; you are under no obligation to start treatment afterwards.