10 mistakes you’re definitely making while wearing or cleaning your mask.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ensured that a face mask becomes a staple for people the world over. While most of us are adhering to wearing one, we might not be using it the right way.

There's no question about it—wearing a mask is an absolute necessity and our best weapon against COVID-19. While almost everyone understands its importance, many may not be using it the right way. Read on to know what mistakes you may be made while using your mask.


1. Do not sanitize your hands before wearing or removing your mask—wash your hands instead

There is no substitute for washing hands with soap and water. Your hands are a breeding ground for pathogens, and if they are dirty, they will immediately contaminate the mask, no matter how new it is. The same goes for the moment you take it off. If you don't wash your hands the moment you get home, you stand a chance of infecting yourself. Tip: Only take off or put on your mask at home, or wherever there is access to a sink.

2. Do not touch it a thousand times

Try not to touch the central part, inside nor outside of the mask. This is where most bacteria accumulate. Even if you have to reposition it, adjust by pulling the sides. Tip: If you are on the street and have no choice, always carry a small bottle of hydroalcoholic gel to wash your hands before and after.

3.Do not wear it as a bib or hang it around your arm

Your arms and elbows are hotspots of bacteria, dust, and even viruses. Do not hang your mask around these areas because it can get contaminated.

4. No not overuse the mask

Yes, we know masks come with a cost but if you wear them longer than you should, you nullify their effectiveness. The surgical ones cannot be used for more than 4 hours (they can be spread over several days if you don't go out much) and the others not more than 8. You should throw them away or wash them with hot water and soap if they are reusable. Tip: If they are stained with sweat or saliva, they must be discarded even if the recommended hours have not passed. Moisture leads to the breeding of microorganisms.

5. Do not disinfect it by hanging it in the sun

Okay, yes, we already know that scientists believe that the sun kills the virus, or at least that it disintegrates more quickly under the hot sunshine, but this does not mean that you put your mask on the clothesline. The reason? The surgical tissue deteriorates with the high summer temperatures and is no longer effective.

6. Do not take it off while talking on the phone

You can perfectly carry on a conversation with the mask on and thus avoid handling it with dirty hands and contaminating it by touching it over and over again. It is all the more necessary to keep wearing the mask when you are in a public space or in a closed room with people. Tip: Never pull the mask down to sneeze or cough. Leave it on so that, in case you are infected, the virus does not spread to others.

7. Do not leave it on the table or shove it inside your bag

Tables and insides of bags too can be bacteria/ virus-infected surfaces. These can contaminate your mask. The ideal place to keep the mask, according to experts is either inside a paper bag or inside Tupperware that you disinfect daily. Tip: Don't store it in a ziplock because the moisture can fill the bag with pathogens.

8. Do not buy a mask that is too big or too small for you

In order for the mask to work effectively, it must fit perfectly on your face, with no gaps—the mask should fit above your nose and below the chin. Buy special children's masks for the little ones. Tip: If you use the surgical ones make sure that the small iron on top is placed and 'punctured' on the bridge of your nose and that the sides do not open.

9. Do not spray it with perfume or disinfectant

Don't go the Trump way. Although hydroalcoholic gels with at least 70% alcohol are believed to eliminate COVID-19 when you wash your hands with them, that does not mean that you spray your mask with any of them or with a bottle of cologne (or of course inject some into your veins!). Strong alcohols destroy the delicate tissue of surgical masks.

10. Do not wash it in cold water

If you use a cloth mask, you need to sanitize it after each use. For effective cleaning, you need to wash the mask in warm water with a detergent or soap. The washing machine is your ally in this case.

And remember, masks are only the first battlefront. Try to maintain a safe distance, do not go to meetings of more than 10 people in closed places, constantly wash your hands, do not touch your nose, mouth or eyes and above all, if you are going to be in a place for a long time with lots of people around, leave the window wide open so that the room is well ventilated.



Popular posts from this blog

What are the 10 most COMMON DENTAL PROBLEM and their TREATMENT???

Image
Dental problems are disturbing , but a majority of them can be prevented or easily resolved. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, eating properly and educating yourself about common dental problems and their causes can also helps in preventing dental problems. 1. TOOTH DECAY Tooth decay , also known as  dental caries  or  cavities , is the breakdown of teeth  due to acids made by bacteria.   You get them when a sticky bacteria, called plaque, builds up on your teeth, slowly destroying the hard outer shell, called enamel.  The cavities may be a number of different colors from yellow to black.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 60 to 90% of kids worldwide   have cavities. SYMPTOMS: Pain, Tooth loss, Difficulty eating.  COMPLICATION: Inflammation around the tooth, tooth loss, Infection, or abscess formation.  DURATION: Long term  PREVENTION:   The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brush...
Read more

MOUTH ULCER / ORAL ULCER / MUCOSAL ULCER

Image
  A  mouth ulcer  is an ulcer that occurs on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. The two most common causes of oral ulceration are local trauma (e.g. rubbing from a sharp edge on a broken filling or braces, biting one's lip, etc.) and aphthous stomatitis   ("canker sores"), a condition characterized by recurrent formation of oral ulcers for largely unknown reasons. EROSION :  is a superficial breach of the epithelium, with little damage to the underlying lamina propria.  MUCOSAL EROSION:  is an erosion which specifically occurs on a mucous membrane.  EXCORIATION:   is a term sometimes used to describe a breach of the epithelium which is deeper than an erosion but shallower than an ulcer. ULCERATION:   is a break in the skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue and the disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissues. Diagramatic representation of mucosal erosion (left), excoriation (center), ...
Read more

WHAT CAUSES TOOTH SENSITIVITY? HOW TO GET RID FROM SENSITIVITY?

Image
Sensitive teeth involve experiencing pain or discomfort to your teeth from   sweets, cold air, hot drinks, cold drinks, or ice cream . Some people with sensitive teeth even experience discomfort from brushing and flossing. Sensitive teeth can also be a sign of a cracked tooth or a ​tooth abscess, which needs to be treated by your dentist to prevent losing a tooth or getting an infection in your jaw bone. CAUSES: Various things can cause tooth sensitivity. Some of the most common causes include: Worn tooth enamel from using a hard toothbrush and brushing aggressively. Tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages. Tooth decay, worn, leaky fillings, and broken teeth that expose the dentin of your tooth. Gum recession that leaves your root surface exposed. Grinding your teeth at night. Post dental treatment sensitivity is common but temporary, especially with crowns, fillings, and tooth bleaching. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS: The pain is sharp and sudden, in response to an external sti...
Read more