Monday, April 25, 2016
House-Wise: Intellident Products Review
House-Wise: Intellident Products Review: Protection by Prevention
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Germs and Your Bathroom
Germs and Your Bathroom
While bathrooms are not as populated with germs as kitchens, they still harbor their share of illness-causing bacteria lurking everywhere from the sink faucet to the towels.
But changing some habits and doing spring cleaning around the calendar can help make your bathroom about as sterile as an operating room
Some tips to stop germs in the bathroom:
Color code hand and bath towels.
"This way everyone has their one color so family members don't swap towels and viruses, " says Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai in New York City, and the author of The Good Doctor's Guide to Cold and Flu. "If people are burrowing their faces in towels, they are doing more than drying off, they are depositing germs." If you don't want to color-code, use a waterproof magic marker on white towels, so every family member knows which one is theirs, he suggests.
"This way everyone has their one color so family members don't swap towels and viruses, " says Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai in New York City, and the author of The Good Doctor's Guide to Cold and Flu. "If people are burrowing their faces in towels, they are doing more than drying off, they are depositing germs." If you don't want to color-code, use a waterproof magic marker on white towels, so every family member knows which one is theirs, he suggests.
Don't share toothbrush.
Make sure everyone has their toothbrush covered by a Toothbrush Shield. Germs can be passed along by your toothbrush touching another toothbrush in the same!e holder. Replace your toothbrush regularly after you've had any illness such as a cold or flu because germs can remain even after you've recovered. Here's why: When you brush, you remove plaque and particles so toothbrushes can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, and oral debris. This contamination can be passed right back to you.
Make sure everyone has their toothbrush covered by a Toothbrush Shield. Germs can be passed along by your toothbrush touching another toothbrush in the same!e holder. Replace your toothbrush regularly after you've had any illness such as a cold or flu because germs can remain even after you've recovered. Here's why: When you brush, you remove plaque and particles so toothbrushes can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, and oral debris. This contamination can be passed right back to you.
Always flush with the lid down.
According to Charles Gerba, PhD, a professor of microbiology at University of Arizona in Tucson, flushing the toilet with the lid up is not wise. "Polluted water vapor erupts out of the flushing toilet bowl and it can take several hours for these particles to finally settle -- not to mention where," he says. "If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, and it is not covered, you are brushing your teeth with what's in your toilet."
According to Charles Gerba, PhD, a professor of microbiology at University of Arizona in Tucson, flushing the toilet with the lid up is not wise. "Polluted water vapor erupts out of the flushing toilet bowl and it can take several hours for these particles to finally settle -- not to mention where," he says. "If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, and it is not covered, you are brushing your teeth with what's in your toilet."
Wipe down high-touch surfaces.
Use disinfectant spray or wipes on faucets, toilet flushers, cupboard handles, doorknobs, shower door handles, and any other area that you touch with your hands, Schachter says. "These sprays or wipes kill germs on contact." The rhinoviruses that cause colds can survive up to three hours, so cleaning surfaces with disinfectant may help stop infections, according to the National Institutes of Health. "Don't forget the toilet brush handle and plunger handle," adds Paul Horowitz, MD, the medical director of Pediatric Clinics at Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore. "These are high-touch areas that we don't think about, let alone clean."
Use disinfectant spray or wipes on faucets, toilet flushers, cupboard handles, doorknobs, shower door handles, and any other area that you touch with your hands, Schachter says. "These sprays or wipes kill germs on contact." The rhinoviruses that cause colds can survive up to three hours, so cleaning surfaces with disinfectant may help stop infections, according to the National Institutes of Health. "Don't forget the toilet brush handle and plunger handle," adds Paul Horowitz, MD, the medical director of Pediatric Clinics at Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore. "These are high-touch areas that we don't think about, let alone clean."
Monday, June 29, 2015
By, Jill Meyer-Lippert, RDH
Certain types of cancer treatments can weaken your immune
system by causing low blood cell counts, including white blood cells that help
the body fight infection. Low white
blood cell counts can not only cause delays in your treatments but can result
in serious, even life-threatening infections.
It is important to take extra steps to protect yourself from viruses and
bacteria when your immune system is compromised.
Frequent hand washing, avoiding crowds and people who are
sick are a few ways to evade dangerous infections. Another potential source for
infection that many overlook is their toothbrush. Toothbrushes can be
contaminated with not only viruses, bacteria and fungi from the mouth, but also
from the environment where it is stored.
What can you do to protect yourself and your toothbrush?
Let the brush completely dry between each use. Rinse the
bristles thoroughly when done brushing and store it in an upright position to
dry. Alternating use of more than one toothbrush will ensure the bristles have
a chance to thoroughly dry between uses.
Storing your toothbrush in the bathroom can expose it to numerous airborne organisms, even
from the toilet. Keeping it in a cup or holder along with other family member’s
brushes can spread germs from one brush to another if they are allowed to touch.
Most microorganisms thrive in a damp and dark environment, making an enclosed
bathroom cabinet an ideal breeding ground for germs.
So, what can you do?
Change your brush at least every three months
When undergoing cancer treatments, it is recommended to
use an extra soft toothbrush to avoid trauma to the oral tissues. The extra
soft bristles may wear faster than a harder brush. Change your brush at the
first sign of bending or fraying of the bristles. Changing it often also helps
lower your risks of bacterial build-up on your brush.
Never share your toothbrush
Avoid sharing items that could expose you to some else’s
germs, especially your toothbrush!
Do not let your bristles touch the end of the
toothpaste tube
When placing toothpaste on your brush, do you wipe or
touch the end of the toothpaste tube with your bristles? If so, that tube is
now contaminated with germs from your brush. If family members are sharing a
tube of toothpaste, it provides another source for passing germs from one
another. If your immune system is weakened, consider having your own tube of
toothpaste to use.
Avoid plastic travel toothbrush cases
Plastic toothbrush cases can prevent airflow, keeping the
bristles moist. Have you ever wondered what that white-colored buildup is that
can form inside a plastic toothbrush case? It is called a biofilm. Biofilms are
defined as “any group of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other on a
surface”. Storing your toothbrush in a plastic case keeps it surrounded by
germs.
Protect your brush with IntelliDent Toothbrush Shields
These disposable fabric shields provide a breathable barrier
for your brush to allow the bristles to dry while protecting it from airborne
bacteria and viruses. It also protects your toothbrush from being contaminated
with germs from contacting other items.
Protect yourself by avoiding germs when your immune system
is weak. Taking these extra simple steps can help you avoid dangerous
infections during cancer treatments.
Toothbrush Shield Twitter
Monday, May 18, 2015
Summer Camp Time is COMING!!!!
It is that time of year once again. The time where we say goodbye to school and HELLO to summer camp. Yes, the kids will be heading to CAMP A-LOT-OF-FUN soon. So it is time to get that list ready. What will they need this year? We want to help you with an item that you need to add to your shopping list.
Every year it is the same items needed, you would think. Well, THINK AGAIN!! Each year there are always those items that shall never change and some WE NEED TO CHANGE!
We NEED to make sure our kids are being HEALTHY even when they are away from home. How do we do that? We make sure we know what they are doing and where they are going to be doing it. Summer camps are getting better with food options, yet the living areas of camp will never change. Many kids sharing sleeping areas and bathrooms. That area is the area we need to be the most worried about. Kids sharing sinks can be VERY SCARY for so many reasons.The biggest reason is well, let's face it, KIDS ARE NOT CLEAN! There will be many germs and other things in that bathroom that can make your little camper ill! One way to prevent that from happening is make sure they cover their toothbrush with a Toothbrush Shield! You can get Toothbrush Shields and all the other supplies your camper needs at your local Walmart store.
Every year it is the same items needed, you would think. Well, THINK AGAIN!! Each year there are always those items that shall never change and some WE NEED TO CHANGE!
Buy your Toothbrush Shields today at Walmart
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Is your toothbrush making you SICK?
You may have heard talk about the germs that can live on your toothbrush and wondered if it’s cause for concern. It’s a fact that there are more bacteria in the mouth than anywhere else in your body, and some of them get on your toothbrush when you brush your teeth. In addition, most people store their toothbrush in the bathroom, which tends to contain numerous airborne bacteria because of the warm, moist environment.
What can you do?
Buy a PLASTIC TOOTHBRUSH COVER?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly advises against storing toothbrushes in closed plastic containers, as the humid conditions are more conducive to bacterial growth.
Get an IntelliDent Toothbrush Shield?
The Toothbrush Shield is designed to replace the plastic snap-on caps, which have been proven to trap and breed bacteria. It is a disposable, breathable, and fast drying shield that acts like a surgical mask for your toothbrush. The Shield is made of an antimicrobial nonwoven material that wicks away moisture from your toothbrush, creating a cleaner, healthier environment for your toothbrush – and your mouth. It is a laboratory tested 99.9% effective barrier against bacterial and viral transfer from both airborne and surface microbial contact.
"Being a person on the go, I carry my toothbrush everywhere," said Susan Klinsport, CEO of IntelliDent. "I knew a plastic cap wouldn't protect my toothbrush, but I couldn't find an alternative. I also knew I couldn't be the only one facing this issue. Inspired to find a solution, I invented the Toothbrush Shield. Now it’s easy to protect your toothbrush -- traveling, at work, at home, and everywhere in between."
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