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Suggest Treatment For Gingivitis

Posted on Thu, 21 Jul 2016

Question: I and my wife were having some snack at one street stall. After completing our food, I saw the vendor was cleaning plates only using a plain cloth without washing them properly. Later I saw one person placed one plate on ground and i found one street dog was licking it. I am worried that the plate or in which we were eating might have been contaminated. Can you specify whether we still need to take vaccines? By the way I have bleeding gum problem which I get whenever I eat apples or sometimes when I brush.

Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Following answers to your questions

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concern.

1. When you eat outside, infectious diseases are the most common problems that can occur together with food poisoning and intestinal parasites.

If you are afraid of rabies, you shouldn't. Exposure to dry saliva of the dogs won't cause infection. So no need for vaccine.

2. With regards to bleeding gums especially after eating apples and brushing, that is due to gingivitis. Your gums are infected /inflamed and we should go further to understand why.

The most common causes include plaque, changing toothbrush, etc.

I advise to get your teeth checked by a dentist, keep good oral hygiene, brush your teeth regularly.

If no improvement, prescription medications would be prescribed to treat infection.

Hope it helps.
Dr.Sejdini

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Rahul Tawde (1 hour later)

Thanks for replying to my query.
But I didn't get dog dry saliva part. I guess there could be scenario where the plate in which we ate might also be one of the plates licked by a dog. He was just wiping every plate simply with the same plain cloth. Isn't it possible that some of the dog saliva would have still remain on plate. Even if the plate in which we were eating would have been different from the one which some dog might have licked, isn't it possible that the dog's saliva would have come to our plates from the cloth he was wiping the plates. Are you saying this time is too long for the rabies virus to remain active?

Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (35 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Rabies virus inactive when saliva is dry

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Sorry for the late reply.

Now, let's suppose parts of saliva could have been spread while wiping with same cloth. At the time you got the food, the plate was dry, so the virus can't live there, can't be active.

With regards to intestinal parasites or pathological bacteria causing food poisoning, these are which worries me the most.

This is because they can still live and/or turn into cysts/ova or spores that can still cause disease.

Hope it answered your questions.
Dr.Sejdini

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Rahul Tawde (5 hours later)

Thanks, Ma'am. I am not so sure about the dryness part of the plate. Since the cloth he was using was same, it might be wet in itself. Also the weather was pretty rainy.

Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained below

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

When we talk about dryness, it means away from natural habitat. In other words, saliva does not keep its natural properties away from the mouth. So, if the contact is immediate, then there are chances for infection. Otherwise, no chance.

All the best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Priyanka G Raj

Follow up: Dr. Rahul Tawde (1 hour later)

Coukd you elaborate what classifies as immediate? Less than 30 seconds?

Answered by Dr. Rahul Tawde (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed below

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Immediate contact means within first seconds. By time, saliva loses its wetness and properties. So, if you get in contact with infected saliva during this stage, there are little chance to get infection

Please keep in mind that exposing to sun ultraviolet rays can destroy the virus.

My problem is to high chance for intestinal parasites and tetanus. Can you take tetanus vaccine and check your stool for ova parasites.

All the best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj