Small Steps Can Help You Stay Safe
As we all deal with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Mill Valley dental team is here help you to stay as healthy as possible. We have compiled this short overview of simple things that you can do to protect yourself. We hope that you find this helpful; please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have additional questions!
The COVID-19 virus is transmitted from person to person through both direct contact and surface contact. Once in your body, it affects your lungs through your nose or mouth. Part of the reason that COVID-19 is so contagious is because it can stay alive, and transmittable, for days at time on surfaces like TV remotes, countertops, and door handles.
- Wash your hands many times throughout the day: takes special care to wash them before you eat, and after you have been out of the house at the store or pharmacy.
- Every time that you wash your hands, use soap and warm water, and clean your hands for at least twenty seconds.
- Carry disinfectant wipes with you when you leave the house. Get into the habit of disinfecting doorknobs, handles, gas nozzles, light switches, and other surfaces when you are running errands.
- Carry hand sanitizer with you. You want to use a hand sanitizer that is least 60% alcohol for a maximum effectiveness. You can also put hand sanitizer at all of your house’s entrances and exits to use every time you enter and exit your home.
- Lozenges that include zinc have been shown to inhibit the virus’s growth, so look for zinc on the ingredients’ label.
Here are some additional behavioral changes that you can make to protect yourself.
- Don’t leave your house, except to complete essential tasks–like grocery shopping and doctor’s appointments.
- Do not shake hands with other people. Rather, use a fist bump, elbow bump, or a simple wave as a greeting.
- Try to use your elbow or knuckle to press buttons, open doors, and turn on light switches.
- If possible, wear latex/nitrile gloves when you’re outside of your home. Before you re-enter your house, remove and dispose of the gloves, then wash your hands promptly. Do not reuse gloves; remember, COVID-19 can stay alive on the surface of the glove.
- Wear a face mask–made of either disposable paper or re-usable cloth–when you are out in public. Masks need to cover both your nose and mouth.
- Try not to touch your face during the day. Many people are surprised to find out how many times they were you touching their faces without even realizing it!
- When you do cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue, and then dispose of the tissue right away.
We know that this is an overwhelming and scary time for many people. We hope that you now have some implementable ideas on how you can protect yourself. As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or you need further guidance!