A simple, twice-a-day bathroom habit cuts your sick days short

‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking — and respiratory infections.November marks the traditional ramp-up phase of the annual respiratory illness season in the US, increasing the chances of germs wreaking havoc on our bodies.

The most frequent culprits are upper respiratory infections (URIs) like colds and sinus issues, which hit everything above the vocal cords with all-too-familiar symptoms, from congestion to a scratchy throat.But a new study has found an easy way to lower your chances of developing URI symptoms altogether.Better yet, it involves stacking a simple, minutes-long habit onto one that you’re likely already doing every day.URI symptoms are a nuisance both physically and cognitively.

The drop in cognitive performance during severe flu-like illnesses have been likened to the level of impairment caused by alcohol depravation, while nasal congestion and post-nasal drip often lead to fragmented sleep and subsequent daytime fatigue.Given that hygiene measures like handwashing are proven shields against viral infections, a team of researchers in Brazil wanted to see if targeting the entire oral cavity with an antimicrobial agent could prevent the onset of upper respiratory symptoms.Their study, published in Brazilian Oral Research, found that pairing toothbrushing with mouthwash or oral spray has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of these symptoms.The researchers tracked 205 participants, ages 18 to 69, split into three groups: a control group that brushed twice daily for two minutes with a standard fluoride toothpaste; a “gargling group” that added a twice daily mouthwash routine; and an oral spray group that used an oral spray twice daily alongside brushing.

Both the mouthwash and spray contained cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a safe, inexpensive and widely accessible antiseptic well-studied and known for its antibacterial and potential antiviral properties.Over the three-month study, participants kept a da...