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When the weather dips, the incidence of colds and flu rises. In North America, peak cold and flu season takes place from November through March most years. While most adults get one or two colds per year, a sizable percentage will catch influenza, and a small percentage of these will have a severe enough illness that they end up in the hospital. Here are some ways that you can prevent the spread of respiratory infections through the community.
Wash Your Hands
When you come to your dental office, you’ll notice that your dentist, hygienist and dental assistant wash their hands frequently. (By the way, if a healthcare provider of any variety enters your room to work on you without washing his or her hands, feel free to ask that they do so!) Since dental staff see a lot of people over the course of cold and flu season, we take precautions that keep our patients (and ourselves) safe and healthy.
Washing your own hands before eating and after using the bathroom are probably already ingrained habits. During the winter, it makes sense to step up this effort; try not to touch your face without washing your hands first, and if you’re spending days out shopping or evenings at holiday parties, try to remember to wash (or use hand sanitizer) more frequently than usual.
Get a Flu Shot
We know, no one really wants to get more needles if they can help it! Getting vaccinated against influenza can help you avoid the more serious of the wintertime illnesses. Even if you are not in a high-risk group (elderly, babies, people with heart disease or cancer, asthmatics), chances are good that you run into people who are in these groups on a daily or weekly basis. You can help protect everyone by getting the shot. You also might be eligible to receive the FluMist nasal spray, making an actual needle unnecessary.
Stay Home If You’re Sick
You have a lot to do this time of year, but it really is best to stay home if you are ill. While you can come for your dental appointment with a mild cold, if you’re very stuffy (and can’t breathe through your nose) or you have a frequent cough, it might be difficult for you to sit in the chair for treatment. If you have the flu or anything contagious that is more serious than a cold, it’s best to avoid sharing your germs. As a benefit, staying home will allow you to rest, which can make your illness go away more quickly.
You probably won’t be able to avoid every bug this winter, but by taking the above precautions, you stand a good chance of not becoming seriously and miserably ill.
