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  • Dentists, toothbrush, toothpaste

    A reminder through this article:

    Swine flu fear hits dentists
    By: Kranti Vibhute Date: 2009-08-16 Place: Mumbai

    Hand out painkillers instead; say they can't risk their, patients' or staff lives

    It's a hygiene hazard but now fearing that it may be deadly too, dentists in the city are putting off planned dental surgeries for patients with flu symptoms fearing that they may be victims of the dreaded H1N1 virus.
    Since the flu is an airborne disease, most dentists in Mumbai have decided to postpone surgical treatment to their patients and give them painkillers for temporary relief. Pune dentists too have shut their clinics. A programme at one of the resorts on the Mumbai Ahmedabad highway conducted by the Indian Dental Association also had to be called off.

    Dr Vijay Tamhane, a practising dental surgeon at Chinchwad, Pune said, "Most dentists in Pune have shut their clinics. It's very risky to carry any surgical treatment that can easily affect us or our staff." Dr Rajendra K Sankpal, dentist and implantologist from Powai, said, "There is a high risk. I give patients painkillers instead."

    Secretary of the Indian Dental Association, Dr Sharif Feroz, said, "Everyone is sending smses to take additional precautions while treating patients."

    WHO information

    The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautioned dentists to take precautions to protect themselves, their patients and staff. In a report, the CDC states that the primary infection control goal of dentists was to prevent transmission of disease. The spread of cold and flu viruses through a family can occur via toothbrush/tooth paste contamination. Each member of the family should have their own tube of toothpaste, just like they have their own toothbrush. After an episode of cold or flu, the toothbrush and toothpaste should be changed.

  • #2
    Re: Dentists, toothbrush, toothpaste

    kiwibird

    Professional oral health care by dental hygienists reduced respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care

    ADACHI M.<sup> (1)</sup> ; ISHIHARA K.<sup> (2)</sup> ; ABE S.<sup> (2)</sup> ; OKUDA K.<sup> (2)</sup> ;

    Objectives: Respiratory infection is a major cause of death in the elderly. We have evaluated the role of professional oral health care (POHC) by dental hygienists in reducing respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care.

    Methods: Two populations of elderly persons, one receiving POHC and one not, were examined to determine numbers of microorganisms, potent pathogens of respiratory infection, enzymatic activity in saliva, fevers, prevalence of fatal aspiration pneumonia and prevalence of influenza.

    Results: In the first population, we found a high prevalence of potent respiratory pathogens such as Staphylococcus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Patients who received POHC showed a lower prevalence for these pathogens than those who did not. The ratio of fatal aspiration pneumonia in POHC patients was significantly lower than that in patients without POHC (non-POHC) over a 24-month period (P< 0.05). The prevalence of a fever of 37.8&#176;C or more in POHC patients was significantly lower than that in the non-POHC group (P<0.05). In the second study population, we investigated the effects of POHC on infection with influenza over a 6-month period. In the POHC group, neuraminidase and trypsin-like protease activities decreased, and one of 98 patients was diagnosed with influenza; whereas, in the non-POHC group, nine of 92 patients were diagnosed with influenza. The relative risk of developing influenza while under POHC was 0.1 (95&#37; Cl 0.01-0.81, P= 0.008).


    Conclusion: These results suggest that POHC by dental hygienists is effective in preventing respiratory infections in elderly persons requiring nursing care.



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    • #3
      Re: Dentists, toothbrush, toothpaste

      that would be interesting -and easy to test- whether flu or cold
      can spread by toothbrush.
      Has it ever been demonstrated ?
      I'm interested in expert panflu damage estimates
      my current links: http://bit.ly/hFI7H ILI-charts: http://bit.ly/CcRgT

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      • #4
        Re: Dentists, toothbrush, toothpaste

        Originally posted by gsgs View Post
        that would be interesting -and easy to test- whether flu or cold
        can spread by toothbrush.
        Has it ever been demonstrated ?
        Yes - within many families.

        I've been known to put toothbrushes in the dishwasher, along with dishes.

        When my kids were young, they would grab the wrong toothbrush & spread germs.

        .
        "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

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        • #5
          Re: Dentists, toothbrush, toothpaste

          How to Keep Toothbrushes Sanitary

          Step 1 **Replace Toothbrushes When Sick**
          Often, people will brush with the same toothbrushes, even when they are sick. You are simply putting the germs that got you sick back into your body. It’s better to replace toothbrushes daily when sick than risk re-infecting yourself.

          Step 2 **Examine Location of Toothbrushes**
          Many smaller bathrooms have the toilet right next to the bathroom vanity. What is sitting on the vanity in the open and exposed to toilet spray? That’s right! Many people have toothbrushes sitting very close to toilets that give off a very fine mist of spray when you or a family member flushes. Gross!

          Examine where your toothbrushes are setting. Move them to a different location for storage if they are near objects that can get more germs on them.

          Step 3 **Consider UV Toothbrush Cleaner**
          One great way to get your toothbrushes sanitary is to consider purchasing a UV toothbrush cleaner. The light from this type of cleaner gets all the germs out and kills them. Each time you brush, you know that your toothbrushes are germ free.

          Step 4 **Use Multiple Toothbrushes**
          The cost of new toothbrushes really isn’t very high. Go ahead and purchase several. Daily rotate which one you use to give the other ones time to air dry and not gather mold and mildew from constantly being wet.

          The salvage of human life ought to be placed above barter and exchange ~ Louis Harris, 1918

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