Good hygiene can delay antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic awareness reminds both healthcare professionals and patients why the use of antibiotics needs careful monitoring. Healthcare professionals are increasingly concerned about antibiotic resistance.  The more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics the harder it is to treat infections and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

“Since their discovery, antibiotics have served as the cornerstone of modern medicine. However, the persistent overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human and animal health have encouraged the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, which occurs when microbes, such as bacteria, become resistant to the drugs used to treat them.”

World Health Organisation

Why is antibiotic resistance increasing?

Research confirms fears of increasing global antimicrobial resistance. Education and sharing information helps everyone slow down the spread of antibiotic resistance.

What can we do in the home against antibiotic resistance?

As antibiotics are widely used in farming, bacteria can easily enter the food we eat, whether it’s meat or vegetables. Mixed among the harmless bacteria, are antibiotic resistant bacteria. Those then find new host sites where they can multiply.

• Focus on the hygienic preparation of food in the kitchen. Washing hands frequently, using clean knives and boards for each different item,  and storing food correctly all help.
• Regularly cleaning surfaces in the house. As well as kitchen counters and bathroom ceramic ware, door handles, remote controls, mobile phones and key-boards all need regular wiping.
• Teach thorough handwashing to children, to include between the fingers and using a nail brush.
• It’s not necessary to use anti-bacterial hand-wash which may even help bacteria become more resistant to products designed to reduce them. Normal soap and water works well as they combine to rinse oil and grime away. Bacteria are less interested in clean skin.

Good hygiene not only helps protect us from illness but also helps to prevent the spread of strains of bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance.

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• How to get rid of dental floss
• Are you worried about root canal treatment?

Is antibiotic resistance a problem in dentistry?

A key message from the NHS and dentists is that antibiotics don’t cure toothache!

Good oral hygiene practices focusing on preventive care help keep the mouth, gums and teeth healthy. But, especially as we get older and teeth become worn, it’s easier for bacteria to penetrate the enamel and cause dental decay. Regular visits to the dentist and the dental hygienist help to identify and treat dental concerns before a deeper problem develops that may need antibiotics.

Preventive care for children is important

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) covers the cost of children’s dental treatment. Some SpaDental practices can register children as NHS patients; others are private practices but offer advantageous rates for children of registered patients. Find out if we have a dentist near you.

Dental needs often increase with age

As we get older, enamel weakens and bacterial infection can begin more easily. When your dentist spots a concern treatment will prevent it developing into a problem. Regular dental visits can prevent the unpleasant experience of toothache or abscesses.

If you do have toothache, it’s very important to visit the dentist to treat the cause of the infection. For example, in the case of toothache caused by dental decay your dentist will clean away areas where unfriendly bacteria are multiplying. The remaining tooth is healthy and usually antibiotics are unnecessary.

As people practice effective preventive dental care, the need to prescribe antibiotics will decrease.

Get in touch to make a dental appointment

Whatever our age, we should all visit the dentist every six months, unless told otherwise.

SpaDental offers a full range of treatments as well different ways to pay for care. Why not get in touch to find out more?

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