Good hand hygiene isn’t the only thing your dentist is concerned about when it comes to keeping everyone safe from COVID-19. Yes, washing with soap and water is necessary and vitally important during this time but so is maintaining optimal health. Whether it is showering regularly, keeping teeth and gums free of harmful bacteria, or wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while working, all of these efforts combine to ensure both staff and patients are safe. If you are preparing for an upcoming appointment and want to know what your dentist is doing to maintain personal cleanliness, read on.
The Importance of Personal Hygiene
In a dentist’s office, it should come as no surprise that bacteria and viruses can easily spread because of the proximity between you and your dentist. They must remain close while examining your mouth and performing any type of dental work; however, should they forgo necessary precautions, harmful pathogens can transfer from your oral cavity and into their eyes, nose, mouth, and hands.
But it isn’t just you and your hygiene that your dentist is concerned about. It is also their standard of personal cleanliness that matters. From their hair to their fingernails to their own teeth and gums, any germs or viruses they possess can be transmitted just as easy to you during your appointment.
This is why you will find your dentist and dental team going the extra mile to ensure proper cleanliness is achieve both inside and outside the office.
5 Ways Your Dentist is Staying Clean
To better understand what your dentist means when they talk about increasing their efforts to maintain optimal personal hygiene, here are a few examples:
- All fingernails are to be cut back and trimmed to avoid any dirt accumulations that could be passed on to a patient.
- Hair is to be pulled back and remain away from the face at all times to avoid the potential contamination of equipment, instruments, or a patient’s health.
- Ensuring proper oral hygiene standards are met with regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing. This keeps the immune system healthy and strong and reduces the risk of contracting harmful viruses like COVID-19.
- Waiting until their arrival at work to change into scrubs and making sure to change out before leaving to go home to avoid passing bacteria and viruses onto others.
- Regularly washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after putting on gloves.
By keeping a watchful eye on their own personal health, your dentist can feel more confident about treating you and other patients when you arrive at the office.