Don't Cast Your Pearls Before SWINE FLU

The FLUstache

OK ... I know I know it was lame, cheesy and a cheap shot , but I just couldn't help myself... I am sorry.


Anyways, as I was curiously browsing through our dental professional sites there were numerous postings on this topic: Swine Flu. Apparently, it is all the rage.

But seriously, I thought it might be something to post about because recently someone asked if it is OK to go to a cleaning appointment if they have a sore throat. Good question, huh. Yesterday I would tell you it is probably OK to go; unless it is to uncomfortable to sit for 1hr or even if you want to be courteous to your hygienist, then it would be nice to reschedule. But as of today we have been recommended to Reschedule ANY patients with signs or symptoms of the flu including a sore throat. According to OSAP (Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures )they are requesting we refer you to your MD and get checked to verify that it is NOT the swine flu , especially if you have been to Mexico, or you have been in contact with anyone who has been to Mexico in the past 7 days. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised their level of influenza pandemic alert from Phase Four to Phase Five and is stressing early detection.

Symptoms:

fever (greater than 100ºF)
chills
head and body aches
fatigue
cough
stuffy nose
sore throat
vomiting and diarrhea
More serious illnesses such as pneumonia or respiratory illness have also been reported.

Below are links to more info if you have any questions.


Good tips for preventing ANY FLU here I think #2, & # 5 are the hardest but probably the most important.

ADA ( American Dental Association) here breakdown on the swine flu

CDC (Center for Disease Control ) here updated stats and info on # of cases in US and what is being done to help .

OSAP (Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures) here

NEW MOMS

I am back it has been quite busy lately but I have been meaning to post so here it is...

A good way to instill good oral hygiene habits in your children is to start early. Even as early as infancy. It is also a good idea to clean your child's gums after you feed him/her/them (Octomom). This not only feels good to the child, but it will stimulate their gums, remove food/plaque/ debris, and get them used to you brushing there teeth. Stores now have little gauze like pads that slip right over your finger for this very purpose, but you don't need to waste your money on that (you 'll spend plenty of it on diapers...) instead take a soft wash cloth, soak it in water and gently massage the gums.

When your child's teeth begin to erupt go ahead and brush them with a small, soft toothbrush and a dab a children's toothpaste(a pea size amount).

Around ages 2-3 yrs old they will likely want to brush their teeth, go ahead and teach them but always get in there yourself after they brush to make sure they didn't miss any teeth. Children don't often have the dexterity to brush on their own until about age 8 , so this is really important to do.(some adults lack the dexterity too )

TIP: A great way to check if they are getting all the plaque off is to get a rubber tip stimulator. You can sweep this along the margin of the gum line and across the tooth surface; if white stuff (plaque) comes off it is a pretty safe bet you need to brush their teeth after they do because they are not getting it all off . OR you can wait till they become cavities :(

What is a rubber tip stimulator?

Well they actually used to put this on the other end of our toothbrush when we were younger but they have seemed to disappear. For some odd reason these are very hard to find but still very practical. Most dental office still hand them out for free but you can also get them online if you can't find them in stores.