Did you know that you are exposed to millions of germs, viruses, and bacteria everyday? If these microorganisms stay on your skin, face, hair, and other parts of the body for a long time, they can make you ill. Fortunately, they can be eliminated by regularly practicing good personal hygiene routines.
What are the different kinds of personal hygiene?
There are various kinds of personal hygiene that you should know about in order for you to remain clean and fresh at all times.
When using the toilet:
Every time you go to use the bathroom, you should wash your hands before getting out of there. Use soap and water, and scrub your hands together for at least 30 seconds. Clean your palms, the back of your hands, under your nails, and between your fingers. Then, with warm water, rinse off the soap, and dry with a clean cloth or towel.
When showering:
Different people have different ideas on how frequently they should shower, wash their hair, and so on. But, to rinse away bacteria, oils, and dead skin cells, it is best to do it at least every two days. Anything less than that will only cause buildups of residues and impurities that can cause irritation and other problems, and make you give off a terrible body odor that will turn people away. Make sure to scrub your armpits, neck, groin, elbows, knees, feet, belly, and back to eliminate dirt, oil, and grime.
When brushing your teeth:
The importance of dental hygiene goes beyond just having sparkly white teeth. It is also about taking good care of your teeth, gums, and tongue to avoid the development of cavities, gum diseases, and other illnesses. For optimal teeth health, you should brush at least two times a day — in the morning before leaving your house and at night before going to bed. In addition, you should floss everyday, and consider using antibacterial mouthwash. With all of these routines, you should be able to stop germs and bacteria from building up in your mouth and causing tooth decay and other problems.
When trimming your nails:
Nails should be kept clean and short, as they can serve as breeding grounds for germs that are just waiting for a chance to get into your mouth and other orifices. When you wash your hands, make sure to also clean under your nails to rinse away dirt and other buildups. You should also trim your nails at least once a week to keep them looking nice and tidy.
When to wash your hands:
Washing your hands is not only necessary after using the bathroom, but also when doing other common day-to-day tasks. For example, you should not forget to do it before you eat, especially if you handled garbage or touched something really dirty. When you sneeze and you used your hands to cover your face, you should immediately wash using soap and water or hand sanitizer to not spread the germs around when you come into physical contact with other people.
What happens if you have poor personal hygiene?
There is a long list of negative side effects if you have poor personal hygiene habits.
Body odor:
Probably the most common negative side effect of bad hygiene, body odor is caused by bacteria that get into contact with your sweat. Once the bacteria and your sweat interact, they create a byproduct that smells bad. Over time, this odor can get worse, and become a serious problem until you change your personal hygiene routines, and adapt better practices when showering or bathing.
Bad breath:
If you do not brush or floss your teeth as often as recommended, you can develop bad breath. Every time you eat, there are small food particles that get stuck to your teeth, and if these are not removed right away, they can become nesting grounds for bacteria that can cause harm and damage to your mouth. Over time, your teeth and gums will start getting some damage, and your mouth will emit a foul-smelling odor that the people around you will easily smell every time you talk.
Common cold, flu, and other general diseases:
Many kinds of general diseases, such as the common cold and the flu, can spread very quickly. They can be passed on from one person to another via skin contact, contact with an infected object like doorknobs and keyboards, contact with respiratory fluids when sneezing or coughing, or inhalation of airborne particles. So, it is crucial to kill off the microorganisms that carry the disease right away to stop the transmission. The best way to do that is by washing your hands regularly. With running water and soap or hand sanitizer, you can lower your risk of exposure to the bacteria, viruses, and germs that bring these diseases, and avoid infecting others, as well.
Smelly feet:
When your feet sweat too much because of the hot weather, or if you wear socks and shoes all the time, you can get smelly feet. To remedy it, you should always wash your feet, and wear clean socks everyday. You can also use foot powder or foot deodorant to combat the stinky smell.
Athlete’s foot:
When you shower, you should not forget to also wash your feet. You can develop athlete’s foot if your feet are not clean and dry. It is a skin infection that is caused by a fungus that can trigger redness, flakiness, rashes, and itchiness, and it can occur on the soles of the feet or between the toes. Every day, before going to bed, take your shoes and socks off, and wash your feet with soap and water. Make sure to scrub every nook and cranny to eliminate dirt and germ buildups. Then, once done, dab them with a clean and dry towel to absorb the excess moisture, and let them fully dry. Do not every wear socks or shoes before your feet are completely dry. The dampness will promote fungal growth and lead to an infection.
