With the flu season at full bloom, the illness apparently has spread to 47 of the 50 states. We all know that the flu can make you feel bad. Here are some tips to improve your outlook in 2013.
I see many patients daily and try to provide the following tips to help them prevent the flu:
- Each member of your family should use their own tube of toothpaste. Sharing the same tube spreads the virus as it can reside on the outside edge of the tube. Germs can sit on the outside surface of the toothpaste container and thereby spread to your toothbrush as well.
- Wash your hands before brushing. The hands can carry germs that infect your mouth and spread throughout your body.
- If you do get sick, replace your toothbrush immediately. It is likely to host the flu virus. We find it useful to keep spare toothbrushes to supply to you and your family as needed.
- Do not keep family toothbrushes together in a cup. The flu virus can spread to the other toothbrushes transferring the infection from one person to another.
- Rinse with a mouthwash after brushing. Brushing your mouth only removes some of the bad germs. Rinsing with mouthwash has been shown to reduce bacterial and virus counts on the oral cavity.
- Refrain from kissing others. As soon as you, your family, spouse, or friend can detect the flu, do not kiss them or allow them to kiss others. The flu virus is contagious and can easily spread through mouth to mouth contact.
- Do not share food or drink. Just as kissing is contagious, so is sharing food and drink…
Read More: discovery.com
