Good Hygiene and Flu Prevention Tips
As a family dental practice, the principles of good hygiene are always an important focus, both for ourselves and our patients. During the flu season and the current risks of spreading illness, it’s especially important to remember and stick to good hygiene and preventive practices. Today, we re-examine some of the most important good hygiene and flu prevention tips, and how you can practice them every day to help keep you and your family safe.
Cover up your coughs and sneezes
For any cold and flu season, it’s vitally important to cover your mouth or nose anytime you cough or sneeze. This is the main method through which the flu virus can travel, and not covering it up will almost guarantee that you leave germs behind (on multiple surfaces) for other people to pick up for themselves. Also, teach your children to do the same, and be diligent about reinforcing it if they forget.
Wash your hands thoroughly
Coughing and sneezing into your hands will help you stop the spread of germs, but will also leave your hands riddled with them. This is why you should avoid touching your face as much as possible, and more importantly, why you should wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Preferably, use anti-bacterial hand soap each time, and wash for at least 20-30 seconds. Even if you aren’t coughing or sneezing, frequent hand-washing will help keep you safe from anyone else’s germs that you may have picked up while touching multiple surfaces.
Keep up with good dental hygiene
Your dental hygiene is most important to keeping your smile consistently healthy, but also has a significant positive impact on your overall wellbeing. When oral bacteria gather excessively on your teeth – especially along your gum line – certain kinds of the bacteria can release molecules that actively fool your immune system. These germs are largely responsible for the formation of gum disease, which involves rampant inflammation throughout your gums. As an immune response, unchecked inflammation in any of your body’s tissues can lower the strength of your immune system’s overall response – including its ability to fight off any cold and flu germs.
Stay safe with good overall hygiene
Practicing good dental and personal hygiene is always important, but it’s even more so during seasons when sickness can spread easily. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.
filed under: Good Hygiene