Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentistry

Hand Sanitizers

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Hand Sanitizers----Good or Bad?

With the Swine Flu in the media all day and every day the question of prevention comes up. We all know about hand sanitizers, but do we really know if they are good or bad?

The answer is---they are good. There is not a lot of research data that actually shows how effective hand sanitizers are against viruses. The main studies over the years have focused on the basics, which is washing your hands with soap and water. These studies have found that this is the best way to avoid catching a cold or flu. If you just can't be near a sink during the day, then hand sanitizers are the second best offense.

What hand sanitizers do is make your hands less hospitable to bacteria and viruses. When you put it on your hands, viruses and bacteria just don't want to cling to them. So it does reduce the amount you are exposed to but hand sanitizers do not kill viruses or bacteria.

The next question always is about causing antibiotic resistance down the road when using the hand sanitizers regularly. There have been many studies on this and so far the conclusion has been no, no antibiotic resistance has been shown.

Still to best protect yourself from exposure, avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose as much as possible. If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve. If you're sick, stay home and avoid close contact with others. Some viruses can live for hours on surfaces such as ATMs, doorknobs, even money.

So be methodical about good hygiene, all year long! Remember that the number of 2009 Swine Flu cases will most likely decrease over the summer months because viruses just don’t survive that well in the heat. But in the fall and winter, we're all going to have to remember that a new flu strain is likely and we need to be extra careful so we don't catch it.

Please call us to schedule your next appointment with us and be sure to ask us about any new information we may be able to provide you about flu symptoms or treatments.

Faith Tracey, R.D.H.,B.S.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.