How to Keep Your Hands Clean to Reduce Your Risk of COVID-19

By far one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs, including the ones that cause COVID-19, is to wash your hands on a regular basis, especially if you’re an essential worker who interacts with people all day. However, even if you spend most of your time at home, it’s important to know the proper handwashing technique and pay attention to the cleaning products you use. To learn more about which products you should use and how to wash your hands to prevent contracting COVID-19, keep reading below as a dentist in Far North Dallas explains the facts.

Selecting the Ideal Hand Sanitizer

When shopping for a hand sanitizer, pick one that contains 60-95% alcohol. At least 60% is needed to kill germs that may be on your hands. After you’ve chosen one, squeeze a dime-sixed amount into your palm and rub it all over both hands until they’re completely dry. This process should take about 20 seconds in total. Avoid wiping off the sanitizer until your hands are fully dried.

It’s worth mentioning that hand sanitizer is not quite as effective as cleaning your hands with soap and water. In fact, if your hands are covered in grime, grease, or dirt, you’ll need to wash your hands before applying sanitizer. Moreover, you should always clean your hands after touching doorknobs, handling cash, and before and after pushing a grocery cart.  

The Most Effective Way to Wash Your Hands

Believe it or not, there is an ideal handwashing technique. Start by wetting both hands under clean running water and then applying a liberal amount of soap to the backs and insides of your hands. Scrub all areas of your hands, including under your fingernails and between your fingers, for at least 20 seconds. Sing the alphabet song to yourself to get an idea of how long that is. After you’re done scrubbing, dry your hands with a clean cloth or disposable paper towels.

Should You Wear Gloves?

Instead of spending so much time washing their hands, many people prefer to simply wear disposable gloves when they go out. However, public health officials are asking people not to do this unless they are a medical worker or already sick. Not only can you spread germs to everything and everyone you touch while wearing the gloves, but the moisture that builds up under the gloves can promote bacterial growth on your hands. For this reason, you should still wash your hands after removing your gloves.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can drastically reduce the chances that you and your loved ones will contract COVID-19.

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry has eleven locations conveniently spread around the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have dentists who specialize in a variety of areas, such as orthodontics, oral surgery, and pediatric dentistry. No matter what your smile needs, one of our dentists can deliver it. We are also taking extreme care to keep our patients as safe as possible from COVID-19. To learn more about how to keep your family safe, visit our website.