Search results
Sep 26, 2024 · Discover the key differences between good and bad hygiene practices, their impacts on health, and tips for improving personal and public hygiene.
- Overview
- Why hygiene matters
- What is bad hygiene?
- Signs of bad hygiene
- What it can mean
- Ways to have good hygiene
- The bottom line
Improving your personal hygiene doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. Small changes in habits can make a big difference. If you’re concerned, see a doctor, as it may reveal an underlying health issue.
Wondering what constitutes bad hygiene, or trying to figure out if your hygiene habits are lacking?
Take a (minty fresh) breath, and rest assured that some supposed bad hygiene traits are actually NBD — like peeing in the shower, for instance.
That said, some poor hygienic traits can be harmful or even a sign of more serious issues.
Skimping on hygiene might seem like NBD, and it isn’t if we’re talking about the occasional day you don’t brush your teeth until noon. But it matters when it affects your life or that of the people around you.
In the most extreme cases, when left unattended, poor hygiene can breed disease that can affect you or others.
For example, not washing your hands after you use the toilet, handle food, or touch dirty surfaces can spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These can lead to infections and diseases, like food poisoning, gastroenteritis, cold and flu, and hepatitis A — just to name a few.
Poor dental hygiene can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, which can also affect the heart.
Not bathing can result in a skin condition called dermatitis neglecta and secondary infections.
An obvious lack of hygiene can also affect a person’s work and social life. Some companies have a hygiene policy in place for the protection of employees and company image, especially if you have a public-facing role.
Bad hygiene can be broken down into two categories: personal hygiene and environmental hygiene.
Here are examples of both kinds.
•Poor personal hygiene:
•not showering often
•not brushing teeth
•not washing hands before or after handling food
Here are some signs that are indicative of poor hygiene in yourself or someone else:
•body odor from not showering regularly
•unwashed or disheveled hair
•bad breath, food between teeth, or signs of tooth decay and gingivitis
•wearing soiled clothing
•dirty and untrimmed fingernails and toenails
People are quick to pass off poor hygiene habits as laziness, but poor hygiene can be a sign of a disease, such as Alzheimer’s, or a mental health condition, like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
For some, lack of access to clean water, soap, or cleaning supplies can make proper hygiene more difficult to achieve.
Here are some easy ways to practice good hygiene:
•Brush your teeth twice a day. Doing it when you get up and before you go to bed makes it easier to get into a routine. Remember: You only need to brush for 2 minutes for a good clean, so you can do it even if you’re short on time.
•Wash your body daily. A quick shower or bath is all you need, as long as you cover the important parts (Think: pits and private bits). If access to water is limited, use a damp cloth or sponge to wash your genitals, around your anus, under your arms, between any skin folds, and under your breasts.
•Wash your clothes and bedding regularly. Doing laundry once per week is sufficient, whether by machine or hand. If you need to re-wear clothing, a quick wash in the sink and hanging it to dry for the next day works fine. Keeping your body clean lets you extend the time between washing clothing and sheets.
•Wash your hands often. If COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that washing our hands goes a long way in keeping us healthy and reducing the spread of illness. Remember to wash your hands before and after contact with shared, or potentially unsanitary or contaminated surfaces to protect yourself and others.
•Wipe properly after going to the toilet. Wiping properly after going to the toilet will keep underwear clean and unpleasant odors at bay. Always wipe front to back to keep bacteria away from the urethra to avoid urinary infections. Body wipes or a bidet work, too. (Though keep in mind that wipes can make life hard for sanitation workers. So if you don’t need them, it’s best to stick with TP). If pain or a disability makes it hard to wipe, consider a toilet paper aid.
Practicing good hygiene doesn’t have to be time-consuming or require expensive products. A few tweaks to a person’s routine can help prevent bad hygiene.
Since poor personal and environmental hygiene can be a sign of an underlying condition, consider reaching out to a healthcare professional if you’re concerned about your hygiene or someone else’s.
Good hygiene and self-care practices can improve mood, decrease stress levels, provide a sense of well-being, and prevent or limit anxiety. These measures can also boost an individual’s self-esteem and confidence. Good hygiene also supports a positive impact on relationships as hygiene impacts attraction and physical intimacy.
May 20, 2020 · Dental hygiene involves more than just having white teeth. A good dental hygiene routine can help prevent issues such as gum disease and cavities. It can also prevent bad breath. Body.
Key Components of Personal Hygiene. Good personal hygiene includes various components, each addressing a different aspect of your body’s care. Understanding and adhering to basic hygiene can also increase confidence and self-esteem. Bathing Regularly. Bathing removes dirt, sweat, and unwanted bacteria from your skin.
- Joshua Holmes
Personal hygiene for men. A build-up of secretions called smegma can form under the foreskin of uncircumcised men. If you are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin when you have a shower and clean with water. You can use soap if you like, but make sure you rinse it off well. Bad breath. Good dental hygiene includes regular brushing and ...
People also ask
What happens if a person has poor personal hygiene?
Why is personal hygiene important?
Does good personal hygiene benefit both physical and mental health?
What is good personal hygiene?
What are the different types of personal hygiene?
Do you need a doctor to improve your personal hygiene?
Certain tools, like habit-tracking apps or social support, can bolster motivation, helping to create and sustain good hygiene practices, especially when motivation is low. Finishing Thoughts. Understanding the psychology behind personal hygiene can help you appreciate the complexity of these seemingly simple routines.
