I canceled the trip to China – it’s just not worth the risk of being quarantined for a week! Swine Flu, also known as H1N1 Influenza, has been gaining interest in the news and at health organizations worldwide, and not for bad reason – at the moment, it is the Chinese government’s nightmare that an outsider will bring in swine flu, and that the pandemic will spread just as quickly as bird flu in densely populated China. The World Health Organization (WHO) on May 11 upgraded H1N1 to a “level 6 pandemic,” the highest grade of pandemic and the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
Countries affected by H1N1 influenza
Swine Flu is in fact a mutated form of the common flu, which behaves like a seasonal influenza- H1N1 influenza is made up of genetic elements of four rather common flu virus. H1N1 is a type A virus, the most virulent human pathogens known that cause the most severe disease among humans. Type A viruses are more prone to widespread outbreak (as H1N1 has spread to 74 countries now). It is no surprise that airports and hospitals around the world have set up screening areas and quarantine rooms for suspected influenza carriers, so be prepared if you are planning on traveling, especially to a densely populated country. It is natural that lesser developed, densely populated countries must take flu pandemics seriously as they often lack the technology, medical manpower and/or resources necessary to keep a potentially large outbreak under control.
Swine Flu spreads faster but is less fatal than Bird Flu.
Although H1N1 influenza is currently present and spreading in both pigs and humans, and can spread quickly and silently from human-to-human, it is not transferable by eating cooked pork – don’t panic over that BLT! The CDC advises using regular soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleanser frequently to clean your hands before touching your facial features (like the eyes, nose or mouth) to lower the risk of catching the flu.
“Normally the influenza virus is spread from person to person through droplets in the air — from a person with a cough for example,” said Dr. David Satcher, a professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine and former U.S. Surgeon General. Droplets in the air can be inhaled by another person, which is probably the most common way a virus spreads.
H1N1 Swine Influenza
Also posing a risk, he said, are items that have recently touched or handled by someone infected with the flu – a fork or a doorknob, for example. Some experts endorse occasionally disinfecting household surfaces and appliances with a diluted chlorine bleach solution. You should also disinfected your toothbrushes by soaking them in an OTC strength hydrogen peroxide ( 3% H2O2) for 10 minutes – or get new tooth brushes.
Once infected with the flu, it’s difficult to know what actual strain of influenza you may have. H1N1 flu symptoms are similar to the common flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. It can be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and influenza in the early stages of infection, so if you experience any of these symptoms for a prolonged period, consider a visit to your primary health care physician for a check-up.
Counterfeit Toothbrushes? You’ve heard of counterfeit DVDs and handbags, but toothbrushes? Believe it or not, brand name toothbrushes are a hot commodity, and some unethical business people are trying to bank on naive consumers. So be careful what you buy and what you use for your dental health.
Watch out for counterfeit brushes!
In February, grocery stores and pharmacies across Ottawa were surprised to find their suppliers had been conned into buying massive shipments of fake Colgate toothbrushes, and they were supplied to the stores to be bought by general public . The brushes that were affected include the Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360. These toothbrushes were not made by Colgate! Canadian health officials have released the following statement: “If an imitation is suspected, consumers should stop using them immediately, as the quality, safety and effectiveness of counterfeit products cannot be assured.”
It is true that most of the burden to check for false brushes is on the back of the retailer, but it is still important to be vigilant about your toothbrush – only buy from reputable dealers (like big chain grocery stores) and if your brush looks suspicious – jagged packaging, poorly printed logos or something similar, take it back to the store from whence it came. A counterfeit toothbrush is not made to the same quality control standards as true brand-name brushes: counterfeit brushes (which usually originate in China) have been known to have bristles which fall out quickly, leading to throat irritation and, in a more extreme case, a possible choking hazard for young mouths. A toothbrush’s quality can be measured by specific features such as a well designed handle and thorough rows of columns of properly spaced tufts of end-rounded bristles.
Genuine Colgate toothbrushes will have instructions and labeling printed in English and French only, and should say “Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc” on the packaging. In addition, the Colgate logo should be embossed into the toothbrush handle itself, just under the brush head. These counterfeit brushes have not been detected in the United States as of yet, but due to the globalization of most large corporate supply chains (including those of Proctor & Gamble, the parent company of Colgate), these brushes could easily find their way into American grocery stores and convenience shops. Be vigilant about your toothbrush purchases to ensure you are using a high quality brush – you can only clean your mouth properly with the proper tools, and a genuine toothbrush is an important one!
The toothbrush is, of course, an essential tool for keeping your teeth clean and plaque-free, but there are many types of toothbrushes available for use. The structure of your mouth is very intricate, including soft gum tissue, hard enamel, various crevices and spaces where food can hide, etc – and every person’s mouth is different, and responds differently to various types of brushes. How do you pick the right toothbrush for you?
If you get perfect dental check-up scores, do not have any type of gum sensitivity issues nor any other dental problems, you can probably keep your present hygiene routine. An over-the-counter toothbrush will normally suffice for people with normal gums and teeth if you are using it properly. If you have a history of dental and gum issues, special care is needed. You may need more than one toothbrush (different sizes and shapes of brush heads and tips) to adequately clean between your teeth and restorative material, such as a specialty brush shaped to accommodate dental restorations.
What about electric toothbrushes? There are many toothbrushes on the market, available both over-the-counter and from your dentist, which advertise a much deeper cleaning than what a manual toothbrush can provide. Keep in mind that an inexpensive battery-operated toothbrush often lacks the torque (twisting power) needed to adequately clean your teeth, remove plaque and remove biofilm; If you have children who refuse to brush their teeth, an electric toothbrush might be a fun way to encourage proper oral hygiene!
The more advanced electric toothbrushes, with proper technique, can clean your teeth more effectively than manual brushes. Manual brushing often does not do a good enough job at removing plaque than electric toothbrushes from your dentist (prescription electric toothbrushes like Rotadent, what I recommend to my patients has micro-filaments bristles with different tips). These brushes allow more advanced brushing techniques with different brush head attachments to accommodate different parts of the mouth, and have the necessary torque to properly clean your oral environment. If you have any of the following conditions, you should equip yourself with a better toothbrush for better oral health: orthodontic braces, gum problems, dental implants, dental bridges, arthritis, etc…
No matter what type of toothbrush you have, remember that it is necessary to spend two minutes brush at least twice a day, and after meals. The food caught between your teeth can start producing harmful bacteria only 5 minutes after eating (which is why you should bring a toothbrush to school or work every day)! Because every mouth is different, and certain tooth angles (and dental work) require special brushing or special brushes, consult with your dental professional. Besides brushing, flossing, tongue scraping, rinsing, and irrigation are all important steps to get your mouth’s environment as squeaky clean as it can be. It is a lot of work to keep yourself in top condition, but it will become second nature. You deserve paying your mouth so much attention – for your own health!
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