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| A patient with flu |
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| A toothbrush |
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| Family toothbrushes |
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The Flu is Nothing to Sneeze At!
It’s that time again—sneezin’ season—which means that flu season is close on its heels. As we know, flu season usually starts in November and winds down in March.
Even though sneezing is not a typical flu symptom, sneezing and coughing are two major ways the virus is spread from one person to another. Did you know you can spread the flu before you even know that you have the flu? You are still contagious for 3–4 days after your symptoms appear. Flu symptoms include:
- Body aches and chills
- A dry cough
- Fever and headache
- A sore throat and a stuffy nose
My friend has the “stomach flu”
Notice that an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea are not in the list of flu symptoms. We often hear people say they have the “stomach flu,” but did you know that there is no such condition? If you have an upset stomach and feel nauseous, it is likely caused from a different virus or a bacterium. In fact, mild food poisoning is typically the culprit!
I “flu” from bad to worse
One of the worst effects of the flu is the complications it can cause. You may have noticed that after you start feeling better that you suddenly get sick again? You have
- A high fever, chills and shaking
- Chest pain when you breathe, and
- You cough up thick, yellow-greenish mucous
These are typically pneumonia symptoms—pneumonia that may have been caused by the flu—and that needs to be immediately treated, especially if you are elderly and you have other health issues.
Children can also suffer flu complications. They can contract a condition called “Reye’s syndrome” from taking aspirin for getting rid of the flu’s pain or fever. They experience nausea and vomiting and sometimes confusion or delirium. Reye’s syndrome is serious, and medical attention should be immediately sought.
Children may have other flu complications such as—
- Convulsions brought on by a high fever
- Croup (cough that sounds like a barking seal)
- Ear infection
Fighting the flu with your toothbrush
Yes, that’s right; your toothbrush can help you from getting the flu. Even though you rinse and clean your toothbrush after each use, it still hides many germs and viruses.
A healthy toothbrush is a happy toothbrush
The following list contains suggestions for a healthy, happy toothbrush
and a healthy, happy you:
- Wash your hands before and after brushing your teeth or someone else’s teeth.
- Air dry your toothbrush.
- Set your toothbrush upright rather than laying it flat in a cabinet or on the counter.
- If you catch a cold, the flu or other virus, replace your toothbrush after you become well.
- Use a toothbrush cover and regularly clean the cover.
Many families store their toothbrushes together in a toothbrush holder that sits on the bathroom counter or in a holder that is mounted inside a bathroom cabinet. Bacteria carried by the air can easily travel from one toothbrush to another. Even accidentally touching a “clean” toothbrush or splattering water on it can transmit germs to the toothbrush. Dr. Howard S. Glazer, who is a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, advises people to thoroughly rinse a toothbrush, to shake off the water and to set the toothbrush upright so that any extra water will run down the handle away from the bristles. He also advises people to soak their toothbrush in an antiseptic mouthwash and to use a toothbrush cover. Dr. Glazer offers this warning: Remember that “the bathroom is usually the most contaminated room in the house.”
Some things you should not do include
- Sharing your toothbrush because exchanging body fluids increases the risk of sharing or transmitting an infection to someone else
- Reusing (sharing) your antiseptic mouthwash or other antiseptic solution because the next person’s toothbrush can pick up your germs before the solution has killed the germs
- Using an unventilated cover for your toothbrush because bacteria love the damp environment and grow rapidly
- Storing your uncovered toothbrush on a countertop
- Sharing a toothbrush holder. If you have to share a toothbrush holder, regularly clean the holder, make sure the toothbrush bristles do not touch each other and cover each toothbrush.
Good toothbrush hygiene does more than help you prevent periodontal diseases!
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