Personal Hygiene
For most people, good hygiene is so much a part of their daily routines that they think little about it. They bathe, they brush their teeth, visit the dentist and doctor for regular checkups, and wash their hands when preparing or eating food and handling unsanitary items.
Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves, and others, from illness. The human body can provide places for disease-causing germs and parasites to grow and multiply. These places include the skin and in and around the openings to the body. It is less likely that germs and parasites will get inside the body if people have good personal hygiene habits.
If you want to minimize your risk of infection and also enhance your overall health, follow these basic personal hygiene habits:
Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves, and others, from illness. The human body can provide places for disease-causing germs and parasites to grow and multiply. These places include the skin and in and around the openings to the body. It is less likely that germs and parasites will get inside the body if people have good personal hygiene habits.
If you want to minimize your risk of infection and also enhance your overall health, follow these basic personal hygiene habits:
- Bathe regularly. If possible, everybody should have a shower or a bath every day. However, there may be times when this is not possible, for example, when people are out camping or there is a shortage of water. If this happens, a swim or a wash all over the body with a wet sponge or cloth will do.
- Trim your nails. Keeping your finger and toenails trimmed and in good shape will prevent problems such as hang nails and infected nail beds. Feet that are clean and dry are less likely to contract athletes foot.
- Brush and Floss your teeth. Brushing minimizes the accumulation of bacteria in your mouth, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease, It is very important to clean teeth after breakfast and immediately before going to bed.Flossing, too, helps maintain strong, healthy gums. To maintain a healthy smile, visit the dentist at six-month intervals for checkups and cleanings.
- Keep hair clean. Wash your hair with soap or shampoo at least once a week
- Sleep tight. Get plenty of rest (8 to 10 hours a night) so that you are refreshed and are ready to take on the day every morning. Lack of sleep can leave you feeling run down and can compromise your body's natural defenses, your immune system.
- Wash hands with soap after going to the toilet.
- Wash hands with soap before preparing and/or eating food. During normal daily activities, such as working and playing, disease causing germs may get onto the hands and under the nails. If the germs are not washed off before preparing food or eating, they may get onto the food.
- Wear clean clothes. Dirty clothes should be washed with laundry soap before wearing them again.
- Remember good habits help keep you healthy.