You’ve been doing everything that you can to help slow the spread of COVID-19. You’re quarantining, working from home, washing your hands regularly, social distancing, and wearing a mask whenever you have to go out in public. These are all excellent things to do and are important for promoting public health. However, effective use of a mask isn’t as simple as just putting it on and taking it off. Your Orange Park dentist has some key things to bear in mind to make sure that you’re keeping yourself and others safe.
Standard Protocols
If you’re like many and are using a cloth mask when you go out, you’ll want to take precautions to make sure that you’re using it properly and not accidentally catching the virus from it.
Before putting on the mask, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Be sure to check your mask for any holes or tears that may have developed over time. If you notice any, be sure to replace your mask right away.
Once you have your mask in place, make sure that it fits as snugly as it can over your mouth and nose. If your mask has a metal strip on it, make sure to bend it around your nose for a secure fit. While wearing your mask, make sure to touch it as infrequently as possible in case it has been exposed to the virus or other harmful particles.
When it’s time to remove your mask, make sure to wash or sanitize your hands both before and after taking it off. This will help to keep you safe from anything that the exterior of your mask may have been exposed to.
Additional Tips
Once you’ve mastered the proper technique for putting on and removing your mask, consider these extra pointers to keep you from picking up any pathogens:
- Do not hang the mask from a single ear
- Do not take your mask down and wear it around your neck
- If you have single-use masks, do not wear them more than once
These simple steps can help to protect you and those around you from the spread of the coronavirus. Stay safe, practice social distancing, use proper mask technique, and you’ll be setting yourself up for optimal health.
About the Author
Dr. Steven Crovatto loves helping his patients to maintain optimal health and to live their best lives. Since graduating from dental school at the University of Florida, he has spent hundreds of hours continuing his education. He wants to provide the most modern techniques and the best technology that dentistry has to offer. If you’d like to learn more about how you can stay safe during the pandemic, he and the rest of the team at Crovatto & Edwards Family Dentistry would love to help. You can reach the office on the phone at (904) 606-1788 or send them an email.