Paying attention to personal hygiene prevents the spread of disease in the most effective way. In America, the standard for personal hygiene is bathe daily and use deodorants to prevent body odor. However, personal hygiene consists of more than washing up in the tub. To protect yourself and the ones you love from disease, you must understand all the aspects of personal hygiene .
Hands
According to the Mayo Clinic, adopting proper hand washing techniques plays a roll in protecting your health. Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, before and after cooking, before and after caring for a wound, before handling your contact lenses, after changing a diaper, after using the toilet, after touching an animal or animal toy, leash, or waste, and after handling anything that is dirty. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers whenever soap and water are not available. Proper hand hygiene also requires keeping your fingernails trimmed and clean.
Face
Facial hygiene includes washing your face, caring for your teeth, mouth, eyes, ears, and hair. According to the CDC you should frequently wash your face, including behind your ears. Dr. Micheal Hall, MD, states that a person's face should be washed twice a day with antibacterial soap. Contact lenses should disinfected each day and hands washed prior to placing contacts in the eyes. Frequent hair and scalp washing can reduce the chance of lice. According to Dr. Hall, your hair type determines how often you should wash your hair. Damaged hair only needs washed 2 to 3 times a week. Oily hair should be washed daily.Be sure to floss between your teeth twice a day and brush your teeth, gums, and tongue.
Body
Frequently wash your body with soap and water. Dr. Hall recommends that women and men pay particular attention to their genitals. Women need to only wash the genital area; no douches or any other product should be used to clean inside the vagina. Care should be taken to keep fecal matter away from the vaginal opening. According to Dr. Hall, tampons should be changed at least every 4-6 hours, depending on flow. He also advises women to change pads prior to them becoming soaked with menstrual flow. Uncircumcised men should pull back the foreskin of their penis when bathing and gently wash build-up of secretions called smegma. Dr. Hall states that it is vital to remove all feces from the anus after a bowel movement. This can be accomplished with toilet paper a cleansing wipe designed for this purpose.
Oral Care
According to Dr. Hall, proper oral care is vital to your health. He states that not taking care of your mouth eventually leads to health problems, including heart disease and systemic infections. He advises people to brush their teeth twice a day, using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Each time you brush, use a toothpaste that contains fluoride and has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Dr. Hall advises people to clean between the teeth once a day with floss, removing plaque from between the teeth. He states that using a mouthwash is not essential, but is an effective means of freshening breath and killing germs. He goes on to emphasis that people should not use mouthwashes as an alternative to brushing and flossing.
Etiquette
Most people think of hygiene as maintaining clean hands, body and face. However, practicing good hygiene etiquette is also required. According to the CDC, hygiene etiquette consists of using good practices when sneezing or coughing, when around animals and when swimming. If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth or nose. If you use a tissue, place it in the trash immediately; don't store it in your pocket or up your sleeve for future use. According to the CDC, hygiene etiquette around animals consists of washing your hands with soap and water after petting, feeding, handling, or having any contact with animals, their living quarters or their waste. The CDC recommends that you don't swim if you have diarrhea, don't swallow pool water, and shower with soap and water before and after swimming.
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