Cold and Flu Reminders – Watch Your Mouth!

Cold and flu viruses are always happy to end up in a warm, moist environment. Here are a few reminders to keep your mouth safe this season.

Wash up: If done right, oral hygiene is a contact sport. Before reaching into your mouth to brush and floss, make sure to wash your hands first. That way you won’t give viruses a free ride from your hands to your mouth.

Hygiene experts recommend plain soap and water over antiseptic products (use those when you are on-the-go without access to a sink). The key is good technique – wash every surface of your hands, not just the palms.

The suggested length of time for hand washing is the time it takes to leisurely sing a verse of Happy Birthday. If that is not on your favorites list, choose another song and let the kids pick their own special wash-up tune.

Toothbrush Hygiene: To serve you best, your toothbrush should routinely be replaced every 3-4 months. You should also replace your toothbrush after you have a cold or other infection. It’s a small investment to avoid re-infecting yourself or cross-contaminating a family member’s brush.

There are expensive ultra-violet toothbrush sanitizers on the market, but common-sense toothbrush hygiene is free. Beware of home remedies on the internet with instructions on how to sanitize your toothbrush in a microwave or dishwasher. According to the American Dental Association, they might not be effective and your toothbrush could be damaged in the process.

Here is a toothbrush hygiene list from the Centers for Disease Control:

• Don’t share toothbrushes. This seems very basic, but supervise young children to be sure they know to use only their own toothbrush — an exception to the “sharing is good” rule! If there are extra (or unclaimed) toothbrushes in the bathroom, discard them to avoid confusion.
• After brushing, rinse the toothbrush with tap water, and allow it to dry in an upright position if possible. This allows for good drainage and air-drying between uses, a deterrent for germs.
• Do not routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers such as travel cases. These are more conducive to germ growth than open air.
• If multiple brushes are stored in the same holder, do not allow them to touch.
  

It’s Sore Throat Season
The same ingredient in The Natural Dentist that soothes and protects your mouth and gums is also recognized by the FDA to help to relieve your sore throat.

For temporary relief of sore throat pain or discomfort, gently gargle with The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Mouth Rinse. Or, place the rinse in a sterile container and spray your throat for soothing comfort.

Here’s to good health in 2009!