SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Toenails and feet. Cut your nails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. If corns or other foot ailments develop, have them treated at once. Fingernails. Keep fingernails trimmed and clean. Hair. Keep your hair neatly trimmed and wash it often. Bunk linen. Change it at least weekly. Exercise and sleep. Daily exercise improves bodily functions, increasing muscle tone and physical endurance. Even aboard small ships, it’s possible to exercise in some manner. Get as much sleep as watch and work conditions permit. Diet. Navy food is good and wholesome. It provides a well-balanced diet. Don’t be a finicky eater, even though you don’t like some foods. Learn to eat a variety of foods; try to avoid putting more on your tray than you care to eat. ORAL HYGIENE Many dental disorders begin with the buildup of bacterial plaque that remains undisturbed around the teeth. The purpose of personal oral hygiene is to remove this plaque buildup. Plaque can be removed by proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques. There are three common dental conditions that are caused by poor dental hygiene: 1. Tooth decay 2. Reddening of the gums 3. Gum and bone disease Any of these can cause the loss of a tooth; but with proper oral hygiene, these conditions can be controlled or prevented. Tooth decay can be reduced by cutting down on sweets and by brushing properly. For most people, cavities and gum and bone disease occur primarily between the teeth. No toothbrush can effectively cleanse these areas or the areas behind the last tooth in each arch. You must use dental floss to clean such hard-to-reach areas. You should floss at least once a day, either just before or just after brushing. Unwaxed dental floss should be used in most cases. Dental cleansing devices, oral irrigators, and commercial mouthwashes are aids to oral hygiene. They may be used in addition to—but not in place of—tooth brushing and flossing. If these devices are electrically powered, they must be safety checked by electrical safety personnel before use. NOTE Oral irrigation may be harmful for individuals with cardiovascular problems. In addition to all of these procedures, you should also have a dental checkup every 6 months or at least once a year. Your dental technician or dentist can show you the proper way to brush and floss your teeth. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are illness caused by organisms that are transmitted through sexual intercourse or by forms of other intimate body contact with an infected person. The disease germs that cause syphilis and gonorrhea are very fragile and can live for only short periods of time outside the body. Venereal disease is not spread from inanimate objects such as toilet seats, drinking glasses, bed linens, or clothes. Syphilis and gonorrhea are the two most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Syphilis has had the worst reputation, but it is gonorrhea that is out of control. Syphilis Syphilis can attack any tissue or organ of the body and is especially damaging to the brain, spinal cord, blood vessels, and heart. A painless sore, called a chancre, is the first sign of syphilis. The sore usually appears on or around the sex organs about 9 to 90 days after contact with an infected person. The chancre will heal within a few weeks, even without treatment. Other signs of syphilis that may develop either before or after the chancre goes away are a rash that may cover any part of the body; white, glistening spots in the mouth; and fever, sore throat, and headaches. The rash 14-30 Student Notes: