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- Hand Hygiene. Washing Your Hands has always been the simplest and inevitable personal hygiene practice. And probably the first thing that comes to your mind when someone talks about hygiene!
- Toilet Hygiene. Maintaining appropriate toilet hygiene, whether at home or in a public restroom, will help reduce infections. Toilet hygiene comprises many habits.
- Oral Hygiene. When it comes to dental care, you need to be very conscious of your habits and maintain oral hygiene to avoid all sorts of dental problems.
- Shower Hygiene. For most of us, a daily shower is more like a habit; than a personal hygiene practice. And there's a solid reason why you've developed this habit!
- Overview
- Types of personal hygiene
- Personal hygiene for kids
- Side effects of poor personal hygiene
- Creating a personal hygiene routine
- Expert Q&A
- Takeaway
What is personal hygiene?
Personal hygiene is how you care for your body. This practice includes bathing, washing your hands, brushing your teeth, and more.
Every day, you come into contact with millions of outside germs and viruses. They can linger on your body, and in some cases, they may make you sick. Personal hygiene practices can help you and the people around you prevent illnesses. They can also help you feel good about your appearance.
Learn more about why hygiene is so important, the best ways to practice it, and how you can change your habits to make yourself feel and look better.
Toilet hygiene
Wash your hands after you use the restroom. Scrub with soap for 20 to 30 seconds, and be sure to clean between your fingers, on the back of your hands, and under your nails. Rinse with warm water, and dry with a clean towel. If you don’t have running water or soap, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will also work. Use one that’s at least 60 percent alcohol.
Shower hygiene
Personal preference may dictate how often you wish to shower, but most people will benefit from a rinse at least every other day. Showering with soap helps rinse away dead skin cells, bacteria, and oils. You should also wash your hair at least twice a week. Shampooing your hair and scalp helps remove skin buildup and protects against oily residues that can irritate your skin.
Nail hygiene
Trim your nails regularly to keep them short and clean. Brush under them with a nail brush or washcloth to rinse away buildup, dirt, and germs. Tidying your nails helps you prevent spreading germs into your mouth and other body openings. You should also avoid biting your nails.
Good personal hygiene will help your kids stay healthy, ward off illnesses, and build better self-awareness.
It’s never too early to start teaching hygiene. You can wipe down your child’s hands after changing their diapers or before eating, brush their teeth and gums before bed, and get them into a daily bath routine. This helps you begin the process and slowly teaches them as they grow and take over the process.
Good personal hygiene habits are directly related to less illnesses and better health. Poor personal hygiene habits, however, can lead to some minor side effects, like body odor and greasy skin. They can also lead to more troublesome or even serious issues.
For example, if you don’t wash your hands frequently, you can easily transfer germs and bacteria to your mouth or eyes. This can lead to any number of issues, from stomach viruses to pink eye.
Not brushing your teeth can lead to teeth issues and plaque buildup. Poor dental care is also a risk factor for several serious health issues, including heart disease.
Poor hygiene habits can also affect your self-esteem. Looking and feeling presentable can give you a confidence boost and a sense of pride in your appearance.
Other conditions may be prevented or the risk minimized by practicing good personal hygiene. These are some examples:
•scabies
If you want to improve your personal hygiene or help a child develop better habits, these strategies might be helpful:
Set reminders
If you can’t remember to do things like shower, wash your hair, clip your nails, or brush your teeth, set a reminder on your phone. The cue will push you to the activity, and over time, you’ll begin to do it yourself.
Use signs
Hang a reminder in the bathroom to wash your hands after using the toilet. Put a little sign by the plates or bowls in the kitchen to cue yourself to wash your hands before eating. These signs can help jog your memory and improve your habits. They can help both you and your children.
Practice makes perfect
Q: A:
Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Was this helpful?
Building good personal hygiene habits takes a lifetime of learning and honing. Caring for yourself in these manners is good for your physical health as well as your mental health. If you find it difficult to adapt to these practices, talk with your doctor or dentist.
Sometimes, explanations and demonstrations are a good jump-start for taking better care of yourself. This is especially true for kids. A doctor can better explain the consequences of not caring for yourself, and a parent can use them as backup for building habits that will last a lifetime.
May 20, 2020 · Lather the hands by rubbing them together with the soap, remembering to reach the backs of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails. Scrub the hands for at least 20 seconds, which a ...
- Oral Care. Adequate oral care habits can save you from many diseases like diarrhea, gastroenteritis, dental caries, and periodontal disorders, etc. Brushing your teeth twice a day and rinsing your mouth after every meal is the best way to secure your oral health.
- Wash Your Hands. Though a very simple and mundane activity, washing hands can prove to be the essential and foremost step toward your hygiene. During the day, we come across many contaminated things, like going to toilets, using public elevators, or doing our household chores in general.
- Shower Daily. Though we focus on the cleanliness of our hands and mouth, the rest of the body needs just as much attention. Dirt, sweat, and other bodily secretions accumulate on our skin, providing the most favorable site for microbial action.
- Disinfect Your Surroundings. There is no use in purifying yourself if your surroundings stay contaminated. Surfaces like the floors, kitchen counters, bathrooms, bedding, and workplace harbor an infinite number of germs.
May 10, 2024 · Ways you can reduce or slow the spread of infections include: Get the appropriate vaccine. Wash your hands frequently. Practice physical distancing from members outside your household, when appropriate (staying more than 2 metres (6 feet) apart). Stay home if you are sick (so you do not spread the illness to other people).
Sep 5, 2024 · 2. Drink enough water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day as it promotes a healthy immune system and is crucial to good hygiene. Drinking water helps keep your skin and mouth healthy, too. [8] Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals.
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Why are good hygiene practices important?
Keep nails trimmed and clean to prevent bacteria buildup and present a polished appearance. Trimming: Clip your fingernails and toenails regularly. Cleaning: Use a nail brush to remove dirt from under the nails. Moisturizing: Don’t forget to keep your cuticles and the skin around your nails hydrated.
