ISLAMABAD: National Institute of Health (NIH) reports 661 new COVID cases and 1 death due to COVID, on the 31st of July, 2022. Oral health researchers claim there may be a relationship between toothbrush safety and COVID 19
There has been a constant debate regarding toothbrushing habits and their relation to COVID19. It’s safe to say COVID is here to stay and while the pandemic has affected every aspect of a human’s life, it is not shocking to know that lifestyles in general, including our oral care habits, have been changed.
If you test positive? Change your toothbrush
Facts state that COVID is spread through air droplets. These droplets have, in most cases travel through the oronasal cavities.
Toothbrushes are used every day by everyone. They contain bacteria and salivary components in concentration. If a person tests positive for corona, it is strictly advised for the infected person to separate their toothbrush from those members of the family who are still safe from the disease or have tested negative.
Once the infected person has completed their isolation period, and once they test negative for COVID. It is imperative to then, change the toothbrush in order to avoid reintroducing the bacteria from the infected toothbrush, back into the mouth.
Do not share a toothbrush
It goes without saying that sharing a toothbrush is unhygienic. Any diseases that travel through the nasopharyngeal regions can increase fourfold in their spread if a toothbrush is shared amongst members of a family or significant others.
In order to keep safe during such uncertain times, the best advice one can follow is that prevention is better than cure.
Reducing the risk of spread is how we can keep ourselves safe as well as those around us. This shall in turn help decrease the statistics surrounding COVID in Pakistan. Our senior citizens can be safe from the rampant spread of COVID if we take our precautions. Even the smallest step, like separating a toothbrush, can save many.
