Daily Dose of Common Sense

In tough economic times, some people need to cut back on medical expenses that are not covered, or only partially covered, by insurance. For many, these can include dental visits. Luckily, there are some cheap ways to keep your teeth in good shape between trips to the dentist.

Some of the items on the list are no-brainers (like “brush longer”…duh), but others may surprise you. One of the best things you can do is to drink your local tap water. It contains fluoride, while many bottled waters do not. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities.

Here are a few highlights from the article:

• Do some dairy. Just two ounces of milk, cheese or yogurt each day can help reduce the risk of gum disease. Dairy products contain calcium and lactic acid to keep teeth strong and destroy harmful bacteria.
• Floss before you brush. By flossing first, you can use your brushing time to get rid of all the gunk you removed with the floss.
• While you’re at it, brush your tongue and mouth, too. Bacteria are all over your mouth, not just on your teeth.
• Don’t brush right after eating citrus. Citrus fruits or drinks containing those fruits also have citric acid. That acid can temporarily weaken tooth enamel and leave your teeth vulnerable to damage from your toothbrush. Thirty minutes should be enough time to make sure your teeth are ready to stand up to a good brushing.

So, don’t let your teeth down. You don’t want to be a Yuck Mouth, do you?

[Via Pat's Papers]

It’s lunchtime and you run out to grab a bite. Do you wash your hands before you start eating? According to an article this week in the Washington Post, you should.

Since many people work indoors in tight spaces, offices are a smorgasbord for bacteria. The reporter spoke to Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, who said:

“Our offices — our desktops, our keyboards, our phones — these are among the worst places for germs,” he said. “There are 400 times more viruses on the average desktop than the average toilet, for instance.”

So, before you pick up those fries, sandwich, chips, burrito, or pizza, give your hands a good washing.

[Via Pat's Papers.]

You’ve seen them. Big globules of spit on the street or sidewalk. Loogies just waiting there for you to step or drop something in. And worse than seeing a pile of spit is listening to someone expectorate one. Starting deep in his (or, less likely, her) throat, he coughs, sputters, and hocks until a giant phlegm ball comes out. Then, it’s deposited somewhere nearby for all to see.

Is this really how far we’ve come as a society? We can put a man on the moon, obsessively Twitter and elect a black president, but we can’t stop ourselves from spitting in public?

Many diseases can be transmitted through saliva and some of them can live for hours outside the body. In previous centuries and in more recent years, outbreaks of TB and SARS respectively led to prominent “don’t spit in public” campaigns. But not even SARS was able to curb the Chinese practice of spitting. It wasn’t until the Beijing Olympics that the government waged a full-on campaign against what many there consider an accepted activity. Perhaps we need a little more public awareness here in the states, as well.

The recent Swine Flu outbreak should be a wake up call to all of us–spitters and non-spitters. To the spitters: just stop it. It’s gross and we don’t care WHY you’re doing it. Invest in a handkerchief or carry tissues. Non-spitters: speak out! Admonish and embarrass the spitters until they are shamed into keeping their phlegm to themselves. It should not be acceptable social behavior.

Yes, we can stop public spitting.

An older kid at the playground today was coughing and hacking all over the park. I was completely skeeved out and made sure my daughter wasn’t in spit-shot. Since you can’t chase random kids with Kleenex and Purell (at least where I live), more people need to realize the importance of covering coughs and sneezes.

It’s a basic rule of consideration and hygiene: cover your mouth when you cough but especially when you sneeze. It seems simple, but many people don’t bother and it’s never been so important. This week, the flu caused more schools to close in New York City. If you don’t know what happens when you sneeze, watch this great simulation that takes place on a subway car. (It’ll make you want to walk to work from now on.)

It’s best if you don’t use your hands. Cough or sneeze into your arm or sleeve to prevent the transfer of germs from your hands later on.

In other words, keep your germs to yourself.

Recently, I have had folks look at me askew as I help my daughter wash her hands. We always sing “Happy birthday to you” twice as we scrub our hands with soap and water, and this usually gets us some raised eyebrows. The reason we sing this song twice is because that is the length of time you need to get your hands properly clean. Yep, 20 seconds of soapy washing is all you need to properly clean your hands. You don’t need antibacterial this or hand sanitizer that. Just regular soap, water, friction, and a few seconds. (Most experts agree that hand sanitizer is a good alternative when soap and water are not available, however.) Singing a short song guarantees that you’ve washed long enough.

Properly washing your hands is important, as it helps stop the transmission of germs. If one in three Americans skips hand washing after using the bathroom, it’s even more important for the other sixty-six percent to wash correctly. According to the Mayo Clinic:

Inadequate hand hygiene also contributes to food-related illnesses, such as salmonella and E. coli infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 76 million Americans get a food-borne illness each year. Of these, about 5,000 die as a result of their illness. Others experience the annoying signs and symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

So, sing whatever ditty makes you happy and make sure you take enough time to get clean.