You probably know at least one person who needs a brush-up on personal hygiene skills. Perhaps it's the coworker with terminal halitosis, the dear friend who doesn't notice the white flakes cascading from hair to shoulders or the next-door neighbor whose deodorant is falling down on the job. Personal hygiene is so intimately linked to good form, the topic itself has been addressed by etiquette gurus such as Emily Post, Judith Martin and Amy Vanderbilt. Good personal hygiene skills aren't honed simply to conform to tacit social rules; in some cases, these habits are essential to your health.
Head
Dandruff--the embarrassing white flakes that form on your scalp and rain onto your shoulders--isn't medically threatening, but it can often be embarrassing, or even worse, perceived as poor hygiene. The Mayo Clinic states that dandruff isn't caused by washing your hair too much; on the contrary, most of the time, it's because you shampoo too infrequently. Shampooing regularly may curb pesky white flakes, but if it doesn't there are dandruff-fighting shampoos sold without a prescription that can get the job done. The Mayo Clinic suggests picking two different dandruff shampoos and alternating them until dandruff is well under control. You can also reduce dandruff by eating a well-rounded diet, reducing stress, using less hair styling product or simply by getting a little sun on your scalp.
Mouth
Good oral hygiene serves a dual purpose: It staves off bad breath and gets rid of plaque-causing bacteria that can cause dental decay and gum disease. The Mayo Clinic suggests brushing your teeth at least twice a day and using dental floss at least once daily. Start with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush every surface area of your teeth with short, brisk strokes--and don't forget to brush your tongue. Add an antimicrobial or antiseptic mouthwash to your daily oral hygiene regimen to get rid of excess bacteria and reduce bad breath. The clinic suggests seeing your dentist twice a year for routine cleanings and examinations to make sure that dental problems are detected and treated early.
Body
Sweating is a natural part of being human. The Mayo Clinic explains that sweating is necessary to keep your body at the right temperature. Sweat in itself is odorless, however, when it makes contact with bacteria that normally reside on your skin, this causes body odor, especially in areas with a lot of hair, such as your armpits and groin.
Start by bathing daily to keep the number of bacteria on your skin at minimum, advises the clinic. To prevent armpit odor, choose an antiperspirant or deodorant. Antiperspirant contains aluminum-based ingredients that block your pores and reduce perspiration, explains the clinic. Deodorants won't curb sweat, but the alcohol content in these products makes your skin acidic and less attractive to bacteria. You can also reduce body odor by changing clothes frequently, wearing natural fabrics such as cotton and silk and eliminating caffeinated beverages, as well as pungent-smelling foods, such as those that contain garlic and onions.
Hands
The Centers for Disease control points to unclean hands as bearers of germs and disease that are easily passed on to others. Hand washing isn't only a facet of proper manners--it's necessary to ensure your health. All you need is soap, water and a paper towel or air dryer to wash your hands on the go, says the CDC. Wet your hands under warm running water, lather up with soap and scrub all surfaces for at least 20 minutes before rinsing and blotting or airing your hands dry. If you don't have access to water and soap, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, advises the CDC.
Knowing when to wash your hands may seem obvious in some cases, such as before handling or preparing food or after you use the bathroom. The CDC advises you to wash your hands after you handle garbage or waste, after you change a diaper or clean up after a child who's just gone to the bathroom, before and after you take care of someone who is sick or wounded, and after you blow your nose, sneeze or cough.
Feet
Foot odor can be just as problematic as underarm odor--sometimes even more so, given the inhospitable climate in which your feet live. Integrative physician Dr. Andrew Weil explains that the sweat from your feet, the foot's natural bacteria and the dark, moist environment of your shoes act in concert to create quite a stench.
Weil advises washing your feet daily with an antibacterial soap and drying thoroughly, including between the toes. Don't wear the same shoes each day--give them at least two days to air. Launder washable sneakers, replace shoes that fit too tightly and throw away sweat-saturated footwear. The Mayo Clinic suggests using over-the-counter foot powder to combat odor.
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