Is A Dentist Visit Safe, Despite A COVID-19 Surge?

PLUS: What You Need To Know About 'Aerosolized' Virus

Shots Elaine Thompson/AP Virus Or No Virus: Time To Fix That Cavity​​​​​ Here’s a bit of good news: So far, no documented outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S. has been traced to a dental office -- even though many dentists are once again seeing patients for routine cleaning and care as well as toothaches and other emergencies. That's no guarantee, but dentists and hygienists spend their careers eye to eye with infectious patients, their hands inside gaping mouths, and have a vested interest in making sure everyone stays safe, notes the American Dental Association. The same routine precautions that help keep them from catching or spreading the flu, measles or other respiratory conditions are serving them well in the current pandemic. Still, the ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising extra steps now. Read on to learn more about the changes to expect in your next visit. Bonus: Weigh The Pros And Cons Of A Gym Workout   Newsletter continues after sponsor message Malaka Gharib/ NPR The Lowdown On Avoiding ‘Microdroplets’  Researchers agree it is possible for tiny droplets containing the coronavirus from an unmasked breath or a cough to swirl and linger in the air for a while instead of falling immediately to the ground a few feet away. That means an infection from inhaling this sort of “aerosolized virus” could happen, especially in cramped indoor settings. It’s just not clear, when you look at the evidence, how much these fine, circulating particles are contributing to the pandemic's spread -- compared to, say, getting a much heftier dose of the coronavirus from a neighbor's cough or sneeze, or from rubbing your own eyes with an unwashed hand. Read on to learn ways to minimize exposure to even the tiniest of floating, airborne droplets. BONUS: The Testing Bottleneck, And How ‘Pooled Testing’ Might Help   Jose Luis Calvo/ Science Source Clues To ALS And Alzheimer’s From Physics Just as water can be a vapor, a liquid or ice under different circumstances, structures inside healthy brain cells are able to nimbly switch from one state to another to perform different functions. Scientists now think that in some brain diseases -- ALS and Alzheimer’s disease, for example -- that process gets stuck. As a result, the inside of the cell becomes too thick and sticky, one researcher explains. "It's as if you took a jar of honey and left it in the refrigerator overnight." Read on to learn to more about how this new understanding could lead to new treatments. BONUS: Enzyme Linked To Exercise Shows Potential For Enhancing Memory   More of this week's health stories from NPR Coronavirus Is On The Rise In Most States. How's Your Region Doing? To Come To The Rescue Or Not? Good Samaritans And The ‘Bystander Effect’ The Fire, The Virus, The Violence: Why Domestic Abuse Peaks After Natural Disasters We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your Shots editor, Deborah Franklin   What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy