Why Oral Appliance Hygiene Is More Important Than Ever For High-Risk Populations
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, personal hygiene is more important than ever. But did you know that there is a critical connection between oral appliance hygiene and the risk of developing severe symptoms from Covid-19? Just like washing hands and using surface disinfectants is necessary to help prevent exposure to the novel coronavirus, it is essential to disinfect oral appliances and maintain a strong daily oral hygiene routine to help protect High-Risk populations from pathogens which can contribute to the severe respiratory infections related to Covid-19.
What is Covid-19, and how does it develop into Acute Respiratory Distress?
From the current information issued by the CDC and WHO on Covid-19- symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most serious cases of the virus are characterized by severe pneumonia infections in the lungs and acute respiratory illness. The COVID-19 virus weakens the immune system and damages the cells in the respiratory tract. This can result in Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). ( https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/causes.html )
Why are people with Dentures and Oral Appliances at a higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms related to Covid-19?
The primary pathogen responsible for Pneumonia is streptococcus, which already exists in the natural human microbiome. Streptococcus and other dangerous pathogens can colonize on oral appliances and dental prosthetics. This can then spread to infect the entire respiratory system This is why denture-wearers suffer from a higher rate of Pneumonia, Respiratory Issues, Thrush, and a range of other illnesses. Additionally, clinical studies have found that sleeping with oral appliances can significantly increase the risk of developing Pneumonia. Patients with orthodontic appliances, airway/sleep devices, and dentures are more likely to experience severe cases of Covid-19.
The higher risk of developing Pneumonia, along with other factors like age and existing health conditions, means that denture wearers and people with oral appliances need to take extra precautions to disinfect these appliances to help reduce the risk of developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome related to Covid-19. Otherwise, an infected appliance is likely to exacerbate the most severe symptoms of Covid-19 exposure.
What can Denture and Oral Appliance Wearers do to reduce risk of developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome from Covid-19?
While it is very important that everyone takes action to minimize their risk of exposure to Covid-19, including thorough and frequent hand-washing, use of surface disinfectants and hand-sanitizer, it is also essential that people in High-Risk demographics work to minimize the potential of developing severe symptoms if exposed.
The prevalence of Streptococcus, Candida Albicans, Staphylococcus & E. Coli on oral appliances can lead to rapid deterioration of patients exposed to the novel coronavirus, as the pathogens take advantage of the weakened respiratory system to spread into major infections.
Dr. Berland’s Cleanadent Liquid Crystal Soak Cleanser is the ONLY denture/oral appliance cleanser that has been proven to kill 99.99% of these disease-causing bacteria and fungi which are responsible for Pneumonia, Thrush and many additional health issues. Other soak cleansers, including tablets and powders, only claim to kill “odor-causing bacteria” and have no effect on the pathogens responsible for Pneumonia.
This is why dental professionals highly recommend a strong oral hygiene routine which includes a daily 5-20 minute soak with Dr. Berland’s Cleanadent Liquid Crystals as part of an effective system which combines preventing exposure to Covid-19 and reducing the risk pathogens on the oral appliance contributing to the development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome if exposed to the virus.
Does the Cleanadent Liquid Crystal Soak Cleanser kill the Covid-19 virus?
While the Covid-19 virus is still too new to have been tested in a clinical study with Dr. Berland’s Cleanadent Liquid Crystals, the cleanser has been proven to kill 99.99% of the bacterial and fungal pathogens responsible for respiratory infections that are a major component of severe Covid-19 cases.
Patients in High-Risk demographics should take effective precautions that combine limiting exposure to the virus and disinfecting oral appliances to minimize the risk of existing infections exacerbating the severity of Covid-19 if exposed.
Do I still need to disinfect my appliance even if I don’t test positive for Covid-19?
Even before the novel coronavirus pandemic, Pneumonia was one of the leading causes of death for seniors globally. As the pandemic continues to grow in scale, healthcare systems are in danger of becoming overstretched to meet needs of patients. Even if a patient tests negative for the novel coronavirus, the current shortage of hospital space, healthcare workers, ventilators and other equipment, makes this a very inopportune time to be hospitalized with Pneumonia or other health issues.
Additionally, hospitalization can put those patients at a greater risk of exposure to Covid-19, even if there for unrelated treatments. Due to the current healthcare crisis, it is crucial that everyone takes precautionary measures to help avoid any health issues from developing at this time while we try to flatten the curve of new infections.
” Poor oral health and hygiene are increasingly recognized as major risk factors for pneumonia among the elderly. “~ International & American Associations for Dental Research ( https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141007144514.htm )
Dr. B Dental Solutions is committed to helping limit the spread of Covid-19 and sharing the tools to protect at-risk populations from severe cases.
We’re offering a major 30% discount on our Cleanadent Liquid Crystals Soak Cleanser and Cleanadent Denture & Gum Wipes online to help make the products more affordable to those who need it. Just visit www.DrBDentalSolutions.com and use Promo Code: CLN30 at checkout and have the products delivered right to your door! Additional discounts are available when purchasing 2 units or more at a time and we offer a heavily subsidized flat-rate shipping cost, regardless of order size, to make delivery easy and affordable, so you can save even more when you purchase several items at a time!
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