Flu Phobia

As a health care provider, I am not just concerned about the health of your mouth. Through my career and courses like microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, and public health taken in dental school, I am aware of the many health threats that patient are susceptible to in areas other than the mouth. It is for this reason that I would like to touch on a subject that has exploded in the news media: Influenza A (H1N1), more commonly known as “swine flu.” Hopefully I can dispel some myths, give you some resources for how to protect yourselves from it, and show you the procedures we utilize in our office to protect you from the many health threats out there.

The H1N1 influenza is by no means a new disease. The 1918 influenza pandemic and the much smaller 1977 outbreak can be attributed to the H1N1 virus. The H1N1 influenza is a viral infection that causes typical flu symptoms like: fever (over 100°F), chills, head and body aches, fatigue, cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea. The disease is spread via person-to-person contact through coughing and sneezing by the infected person. Unlike the seasonal flu, adults older than 64 are not at an increase risk for H1N1 influenza; the disease seems to affect a younger generation. The median age for infection is 12-17 years old, presumably because older adults have built up a resistance to the H1N1 influenza strain.

Since the virus is passed by person-to-person contact when an infected person coughs or sneezes, cough etiquette and hand hygiene are very important. These guidelines are not only important in preventing the spread of H1N1, but also in limiting the spread of all respiratory infections like the seasonal flu and rhinovirus (the common cold). If you are coughing or sneezing use a tissue to cover your mouth and dispose of that tissue in a trash bin that is either open, has a foot pedal, or does not require you to open the top. If no tissue is available you should sneeze or cough into the corner of your elbow and forearm and not your hand. Frequent hand washing is also helps to prevent infection; when you wash you should wash for 20-30 seconds; enough time to sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice. It may not be your birthday but people will think it is and will be nicer to you! Antibacterial soaps are no better at killing viral germs than regular soap and using antibacterial soap can lead to the development of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents so a normal hand soap is recommended, plus they smell better and it will give people another reason to be nice because your hands smell like sweet pea , blooming jasmine, or fresh lemons. Alcohol based hand sanitizers are also a great way to clean your hands as long as they are not visibly dirty.

We take our patients' health very seriously and know our patients trust us to do everything in our power to ensure you don't just have good oral health, but good health in general. It is for this reason that we have come up with a meticulous plan using standard industry protocols to ensure every instrument and surface is clean and free of microscopic organisms. Every room is disinfected with a hospital grade surface cleaner after it is used, all instruments are sterilized after they are used, and surfaces touched a lot are covered with plastic barriers. We have also strategically placed tissues, alcohol based hand sanitizers, and no-touch trash bins all over the office for your safety. Additionally, be sure and stop by the office for a free personal sized bottle of hand sanitizer to help protect you against the flu this season!