Dentists have long preached that everyone should brush and floss 2-3 times a day especially after meals.  While dentists and dental hygenists have been quite effective in teaching techniques for brushing and flossing, we need to change attitudes and behaviors so that people go to the sink and brush! Nanobugs, inc. has created a “static cling” that can be easily placed on the bathroom mirror or ceramic tile to stimulate and remind kids and their parents to brush and floss.  Wearing a temporary tattoo of Streptococcus mutans could serve as a friendly reminder for kids too.   

Moms- If you leave a $1 “tip” in the tip jar on the nanobugs website and provide your name and address as a comment on  the website “contact us",  we will send you 5 Strep mutans temporary tattoos and the static cling device.  See if you can change behaviors in your household with these compliance aids. 

It’s less than a week away now - Valentines Day 2011.  I don’t want to put a damper on your expectations or your enjoyment of this day of recognition of love and romance.  There’s bound to be a whole lot of kissin’ going on and so this might be a good time to spotlight one of the nanobug viruses that takes advantage of this intimate demonstration of affection.  Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV) causes oral lesions or “cold sores”.   HSV infections often occur in early childhood or adolescence by kissing someone who already has a cold sore.  The virus can leak from the cold sore of Kisser #1 and enter the body of Kisser #2 through a tiny crack in the lip or skin around the mouth.  This is why the sores occur as mirror images on the “kissers”.  HSV is a virus and therefore needs living cells to survive.  It invades the human cells and opens up a lesion “for business”, cranking out more virus to keep the love going. Initially, the invasion is painful and the person is not interested in pressing their lips on any one else’s.  But as the body cleans up the infection and healing is in progress, the virus is still present and viable.  Anyone can be at risk of HSV infection but it can be especially dangerous for small children and people with lowered immunity.  So the rule for prevention is this:  Don’t kiss anyone who has an obvious sore on their lip or around the mouth.  And if you have one – don’t touch or pick at it when it is healing.  Wash your hands after touching your mouth or the sore.  Never put contact lenses in your mouth to wet them – and definitely not when you have a cold sore.  Cold sores heal in about 2-3 weeks but the virus doesn’t leave you.  It can start trouble again months or even years later.  Reoccurrences usually happen when the person is under stress or when immunity is low. 

Unfortunately, Valentines Day is celebrated in mid-February when the cold and flu season is still in full swing and our lips are still chapped from the extreme winter weather.  This potentially increases the number of infected kissers out there who should be winking instead of kissing.  So, be careful as you “spread the love” - don’t spread the virus too.  And for goodness sake, don’t let your lover with a cold sore kiss anywhere else either – this rule will help you avoid genital herpes (Herpes Simplex 2).  Celebrate responsibly this year.  Flowers and candy are nice – and so are diamonds….and rubies…and pearls…………..