Contents
Own brush, separate cup and container protecting the brush, and frequent disinfection, among others. tubes of paste and sinks. Daily oral hygiene of a person suffering from COVID-19 should take place in a special sanitary regime. Especially if she is in home isolation with healthy people. So how to behave in order to protect others from the so-called cross-contamination?
- Sharing daily oral hygiene items increases the risk of coronavirus infection
- So if you have COVID-19, there are a few rules to follow
- First of all, remember to decontaminate your toothbrush and store it properly
- The dentist tells about what is still important
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Beware of contamination by…. brush
Do you have COVID-19 and live with loved ones who have not yet ‘caught’ the coronavirus? Be careful with your daily oral hygiene. Reason? As research by King Juan Carlos University in Spain shows, sharing daily oral hygiene items increases the risk of cross-contamination with coronavirus (exogenous), which occurs through items that a sick person has had contact with.
It grows, among others in people who use one toothbrush, they keep several of them in one cup or container, or even use one tube of toothpaste. Fortunately, the same studies show that maintaining a strict sanitary regime on toothbrushing items reduces the risk of indirect transmission of the virus from sick to healthy.
So what should we do to protect our loved ones from cross-contamination, especially if we are at home with children and the elderly?
Disinfect the toothbrush after washing (and before)
– When suffering from COVID-19, but not only, we should follow the basic principle of oral hygiene, i.e. one toothbrush, one person. We should not share it in any way. What’s more, after each use of the brush, it should be thoroughly decontaminated. Commonly available mouthwashes that contain octenidine, phenoxyethanol, or chlorhexidine will help. After such a “bath”, each time lasting min. 5 minutes, the brush should be rinsed under running water, and then thoroughly dried with a paper towel – advises dentist Anna Przybyła-Cichoń from Dentim Clinic Medicover in Katowice.
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Before the next use, it is worth additionally decontaminating the mouthwash again for a moment. However, it is not advisable to boil the brush or pour boiling water over it, which can damage the bristles – advises dentist Anna Przybyła-Cichoń from Dentim Clinic Medicover in Katowice – adds Przybyła-Cichoń.
According to Oral Health Foudation, disinfecting the toothbrush reduces the risk of virus transmission to household members by up to 39 percent.
Isolate the brush and change to a manual one
You also need to be careful how the toothbrush is stored. After thorough drying, it should be tightly closed in a special plastic container (you can buy it at a drugstore) or a boiled glass jar. If the container is upright, the brush should be upside down. Regardless of the choice of the container, it should also be regularly disinfected (e.g. with alcohol) or thoroughly washed with soap and water. Such a container should be kept away from the toilet and washbasin, min. 1 meter, the so-called «Hot spots».
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– The toothbrush of the sick person should under no circumstances be kept in an open and easily accessible mug on the washbasin. It is necessary to isolate it so that there is no risk that it will come into contact with the brush of other household members or other objects and surfaces in the bathroom – the doctor advises.
It is also worth replacing the electric toothbrush for a while with a traditional (manual) toothbrush. This is because it is easier to decontaminate and dispose of after a few days.
Stock up on your own paste
The sanitary strictness must also apply to toothpaste. Oral Health Foudation research shows that the use of one tube increases the risk of infection by up to 30%.
- Which toothpaste to choose?
– A person suffering from COVID-19 should only use their own toothpaste, which they do not share with household members. Remember that when applying the toothpaste to the brush, we often touch the bristle with the tip of the tube, thus transferring germs. After using the paste, the tube should be tightly closed, and the packaging itself should be decontaminated with, for example, pure alcohol spray. The paste should also be kept in a separate container and away from the sink. It is also worth signing the paste with the name of the sick person so that there is no mistake – says the expert at Dentim Clinic Medicover.
Fluid and thread in quarantine
The same principles also apply to other products used in daily care and hygiene.
– Patients should have their own, labeled bottle of mouthwash, which is kept in a safe place, without the risk of someone else coming into contact with it. The same goes for a floss box or a packaging for irrigators. For rinsing the mouth, it is recommended to use a glass that can be easily decontaminated – recommends the dentist.
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Wash your hands and wash the sink after… washing
Daily oral hygiene in the COVID-19 era should also include other activities.
– After brushing, flossing and rinsing your teeth, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water to rinse off toothpaste and saliva residue. Remember that we will touch the door handle and other items with our hands later. The principle is the same as after using the toilet. Additionally, it is recommended to wash the face. It is also necessary to decontaminate the sink. This can be done with disinfectants from drug stores that contain chlorine or alcohol. We clean both the surface of the washbasin, as well as the faucet, taps and even the mirror, i.e. all those places with which other household members will come into contact – says Dr. Anna Przybyła-Cichoń.
- The severe course of COVID-19 may be associated with dental diseases. Many people have them
– And one more thing, a sick person should be in the bathroom while brushing their teeth – she adds.
More intensive hygiene and probiotics
During infection, proper, or even more intensive than usual hygiene is also necessary. Reason? More and more scientific reports indicate a relationship between COVID-19 and the development of various oral diseases, including bruxism and gingivitis due to the high level of stress during the disease and the weakening of the body.
– When ill, try to brush your teeth, min. 3 times a day, each time for min. 2 minutes. We should also scrub the tongue, which is a reservoir of pathogens. This can be done with a brush, especially if the other side of the head is porous, or with a special spatula available at the pharmacy, the expert advises.
- Caries is not everything. What leads to poor oral hygiene?
– Flossing and mouth rinses, especially those containing a broad-acting antiseptic, such as chlorhexidine, should also be included in the daily hygiene. Recent, very promising studies show that these preparations inhibit the multiplication of the coronavirus in the oral cavity – he adds.
Such an ingredient includes liquids available in pharmacies, incl. Perio-Aid, Corsodyl, Hypochlor, GUM Paroex or Eludril. People who are treated with antibiotics or inhaled glucocorticosteroids during COVID-19 should also include probiotic preparations, especially those containing Lactobacillus bacteria. They will protect against the development of oral fungal infections.
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- COVID-19 masks can accelerate the development of tooth decay
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- Biodegradable face masks now available
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Dentim Clinic Medicover today it is one of the most modern dental treatment centers in Silesia. The center was founded in 2008 by dentists Wojciech and Katarzyna Fąferko, and for over 13 years it has specialized in comprehensive treatment in a comfortable and stress-free atmosphere, friendly for both adults and the youngest patients. The doctors working here have extensive experience gained both in Poland and abroad, supported by numerous trainings and diplomas. At Dentim Clinic Medicover, patients can benefit from, among others in implantological, orthodontic, conservative, endodontic treatment, in the field of dental surgery and pediatric dentistry. Today, Dentim Clinic Medicover has 3 facilities – two in Katowice and one in Bydgoszcz.
bow. stom. Anna Przybyła-Cichoń – graduated from the Medical University of Silesia, and then completed an internship with internships in Barcelona, where, apart from working in the most modern facility that is a pioneer in minimally invasive dentistry in Spain, she completed postgraduate studies and numerous training courses in the field of aesthetic dentistry and implantology. In 2011-2013, she completed a program at the prestigious University of Siena, obtaining the title of Master Universitario di II livello in Protesi fissa and su pilastri naturali e implantari. He is a member of elite associations: Polish Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry (PASE), International Team for Implantology (ITI), Polish Society of Periodontology (PTP), European Federation of Periodontology (EFP).