Dental Hygiene

7 Habits That Are Drying Out Your Mouth (and Why It Matters)

Virtually everyone gets dry mouth (technically known as xerostomia) from time to time. Perhaps you’ve felt your mouth go dry in the middle of a scary movie, after a long run on a hot, sunny day, or upon waking up after eating an overly salty meal. It’s not a pleasant feeling — your tongue feels thick and sticky, it’s hard to swallow and talk, and your breath feels, well, not-so-minty-fresh. As the colloquial term cottonmouth suggests, it can feel like your mouth is packed with cotton.

Where does it state that an office needs to have a program or system for their DUWL’s?

The question above in the title can be answered by a question… Who has first stated a DUWL system was needed and since when? The manufacturers of the DUWL’s have been the initiating source since the new design of equipment with a closed water system design. The water system is ‘closed’ to outside contamination as long as distilled water is used and not municipal water (tap water). The ultimate goal is to ensure water coming in and used in client care has an accounted quality assurance system so there is no second-guessing if the water dispensed into the client’s mouth is safe.

dentistryiq.com - Dental Hygiene and Infection Control

Spread your infection control knowledge and slow the spread of COVID-19 - Dental hygienists are experts in prevention—yes, prevention of disease, but also of infection. By incorporating basic PPE and hand hygiene information into our patient education, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 while a vaccine is developed.

To read the full article by Joy McCarthy, RDH CLICK HERE

Gowns, Gowns and more Gowns!!!

A summary discussion on product selection of gowns

The routine practice of PPE selection is based on a proper risk assessment. This involves choosing the appropriate uniforms, shoes, gloves, surgical masks, respirator masks, eye protection, face shields, gowns, hair caps and shoe covers. Depending on the practice setting, this entire line up may be your ‘norm’ or it may be a new PPE shopping experience if you were not using the complete PPE spectrum in the past. As the line up of PPE expands, decisions need to be made on specific products and their performance. This is simple when the products are regulated, and with any luck, that regulation includes registration with Health Canada (or FDA for USA) or at least inclusion in a medical class device listing.

Do You Have A Hand Hygiene Program?

A hand hygiene program is embedded within the contents of an office's IPAC Program and is often ill-defined. Dental offices may be performing hand hygiene tasks, have procured the necessary products and posted directions for proper hand hygiene, however, it goes much further than this.