In the time of crisis when govt. has made it mandatory to wear a mask when going outside and also advised to wear it inside when you are near your family members, it becomes very essential to know how to put on, use, take off and dispose of the mask.
Dentistry and coronavirus are a topic to debate on these days. Practice modification among dentists is to be strictly followed to prevent the spread. A lot of dental procedures generate aerosols like crown and bridge etc., we have to protect ourselves from all these. Being a Dentist and running a dental clinic, I have come up with 8 tips to help people stop the spread and get the right thing done.
1. Always wear a mask if you are visiting a place that is crowded, if you are caretaker of a person who is ill, or if you are sneezing or coughing. This will help protect the people around you and you also can protect yourself.
2. A disposable mask is two-sided; a dark (colored) and a light (white) side. The outer side of the mask, that is colored side is Hydrophobic which means it repels fluid. The inner layer (white color), is Hydrophilic which means it absorbs fluid. Hence absorbs moisture (the air that a human breathes out contains water). On average every person breathes about 1 liter of water in 24 hours. So, always wear from the correct side otherwise you are inviting the virus!!
3. Always clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub (must contain 80 % alcohol) before putting a mask.
4. Always hold the mask by the ear loops and then place It around your ear. Take care to cover your mouth and nose and make sure there is no gaps. It can be done by adjusting the metallic band which is present in the middle-upper part of the mask.
5. Don’t touch mask while using it, if you accidentally touch it, wash your hands immediately.
6. If at any point in time you want to remove it temporarily, keep it open by the side by hanging it through one of the ears. Never lower the mask to your neck, as it can expose body parts to the virus.
7. Don’t use the single-use mask again or if it is visibly soiled.
8. When you want to remove it, always touch it from behind, not on the front contaminated surface. Tear the mask and discard in a yellow dustbin(used to discard contaminated waste with blood, saliva, body secretions, etc.) and then clean your hands as explained above.