Coronavirus infections are spreading at an alarming rate, and it is now well evidenced that a person can be re-infected after having recovered once.
While vaccines have proven to be effective as a preventive measure, experts are of the view that even they can't guarantee 100 per cent protection in all situations, at all times.
Precaution thus becomes important, both, for those who have not contracted the disease yet and those who have recently recovered.
Dentists are of the view that a person who has recently recovered from Covid-19 should immediately change their toothbrush upon recovery. This, they say, not only protects the person from chances of re-infection but can also save others who use the same washroom in the house.
"If you or anyone in your family and friend circle have contracted Covid-19, once recovered, please ensure to change your toothbrush, tongue cleaner etc. These can harbour the virus, and it is best they are discarded," said Dr Pravesh Mehra, Dental Surgery, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.
Agreeing with this, Dr Bhumika Madan, Consultant (Dental), Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, said she usually recommends changing toothbrush and tongue cleaners to anyone who has recovered from seasonal flu, cough and cold.
"We are advising the same to Covid-19 patients too. If you have contracted Covid-19, you should change your toothbrush and tongue cleaner after 20 days of getting the first symptoms," Dr Bhumika Madan said.
She explained that this is because bacteria/virus build-up over time on toothbrush is known to cause upper respiratory tract infections.
"As a prevention, we prescribe using mouthwash and betadine gargle that helps in reducing build-up of virus/bacteria in the mouth. If a mouthwash is not available, rinsing the mouth with warm saline water also works fine. Apart from this, one must maintain oral hygiene and brush twice a day," Dr Madan said.
The significance of oral hygiene and changing toothbrush and tongue cleaner after recovering from Covid-19 can be better understood once we understand how SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19, spreads.
According to the World Health Organisation, the virus primarily spreads through tiny droplets that come out from an infected person's mouth when they cough, sneeze, shout, talk, laugh etc.
People may also get infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated by the virus, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth without cleaning their hands.
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Apart from this, the virus has also been found to be airborne i.e. once released from an infected person, it can stay in the air for some time and get transmitted. The transmission would be faster in crowded places and places with poor ventilation.
In this backdrop, toothbrush and tongue cleaner of an infected person are likely to have a significant concentration of the virus. Continued use of the same products can result in re-infection and infect others.
If someone in your family has contracted Covid-19, it is also important NOT to keep toiletry items (toothbrush, tongue cleaner etc.) of the household together as it increases chances of transmission.
Experts also advise Covid-19 patients to dry and disinfect their toothbrush and tongue cleaner for safety.
BRAZILIAN STUDY ON COVID AND TOOTHBRUSH
In January this year, researchers in Brazil carried out a study to understand the impact of oral hygiene on Covid-19 transmission.
The study recommended that disinfecting toothbrushes should be part of oral hygiene as it would help in mitigating infections.
The study was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and stressed that toothbrushes can "act as reservoirs for microorganisms" that can easily spread the disease from the infected person to others.
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