EXCELLENT TIPS TO PERSONAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE

 

EXCELLENT TIPS TO PERSONAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE

 

 

Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases."[2]

 

 

PERSONAL HYGIENE

 

Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the body's cleanliness. Hygiene activities can be grouped into the following: home and everyday hygiene, personal hygiene, medical hygiene, sleep hygiene and food hygiene.

 

 

TYPES OF PERSONAL HYGIENE

 

Each person’s idea of personal hygiene differs. These main categories are a useful place to start for building good hygiene habits:

 

Toilet hygiene

 

Wash your hands after you use the restroom. Scrub with soap for 20 to 30 seconds, and be sure to clean between your fingers, on the back of your hands, and under your nails. Rinse with warm water, and dry with a clean towel.

 

If you don’t have running water or soap, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will also work. Use one that’s at least 60 percent alcohol.

 

Shower hygiene

 

Personal preference may dictate how often you wish to shower, but most people will benefit from a rinse at least every other day. Showering with soap helps rinse away dead skin cells, bacteria, and oils.

 

You should also wash your hair at least twice a week. Shampooing your hair and scalp helps remove skin buildup and protects against oily residues that can irritate your skin.

 

Nail hygiene

 

Trim your nails regularly to keep them short and clean. Brush under them with a nail brush or washcloth to rinse away buildup, dirt, and germs.

 

Tidying your nails helps you prevent spreading germs into your mouth and other body openings. You should also avoid biting your nails.

 

Teeth hygiene

 

Good dental hygiene is about more than just pearly white teeth. Caring for your teeth and gums is a smart way to prevent gum diseases and cavities.

 

Brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes. Aim to brush after you wake up and before bed. If you can, brush after every meal, too. Floss between your teeth daily, and ask your dentist about using an antibacterial mouthwash.

 

These two steps can help prevent tooth decay and eliminate pockets where bacteria and germs can build up.

 

Sickness hygiene

 

If you’re not feeling well, you should take steps to keep from spreading germs to others. This includes covering your mouth and nose when sneezing, wiping down shared surfaces with an antibacterial wipe, and not sharing any utensils or electronics. Also, immediately throw away any soiled tissues.

 

Hands hygiene

 

Germs on your hands can easily enter your body through your mouth, nose, eyes, or ears. Wash your hands:

 

    when you handle food

    before you eat

    if you handle garbage

    when you sneeze

    any time you touch an animal

 

Likewise, wash your hands after changing a baby’s diaper, helping someone clean themselves, or when cleaning a cut or wound.

 

 

PERSONAL HYGIENE FOR KIDS

 

Good personal hygiene will help your kids stay healthy, ward off illnesses, and build better self-awareness.

 

It’s never too early to start teaching hygiene. You can wipe down your child’s hands after changing their diapers or before eating, brush their teeth and gums before bed, and get them into a daily bath routine. This helps you begin the process and slowly teaches them as they grow and take over the process.

 

Here’s a list of hygiene activities, how you can introduce them, and when is a good time to start:

 

Brushing teeth

 

You can begin brushing your baby’s teeth and gums the moment the first tooth pops up. They can brush their own teeth by about 3 years old. However, you may have to stay with them to guarantee they’re doing a good job and brushing long enough.

 

Play a 2-minute song when it’s time to brush teeth. That will let your little one know how long they have to brush, and they’ll get used to the process. Likewise, you may have to continue flossing for them until they’re older and can handle that task better, around age 7.

 

Bathing

 

You’ll be giving your baby baths regularly, but by about age 5, they should be able to handle this task on their own. As they’re growing and you’re supervising bath time, you should take the opportunity to teach about washing all the different body parts, especially:

 

    Armpits

    Groins

    Neck

    Belly

    Knees

    Elbows

    Back

    Feet

 

You can also use this time to teach them how to wash their hair without getting suds in their eyes — and what to do if they do.

 

Hand washing

 

Wipe your baby’s hands with a warm washcloth before mealtime, after eating, and after changing a diaper. During potty training, make washing hands an integral step in the process.

 

You can teach your child to sing the ABC song while they wash — it’s 20 seconds long, which is an ideal washing time.

 

Make it a priority to ask your child to wash their hands any time you’d like to encourage good hygiene, like before meals, after playing outside, after petting an animal, or after being near a sick friend.

 

Nail hygiene

 

You’ll clip your child’s nails when they’re a baby, but as they grow older, you can help them care for their own nails. Encourage your children to wash under their nails at each shower — a fun nail brush will help. Then, sit down with them weekly after a shower for a trim. Your nails are softer and clip more easily after a shower.