Good personal hygiene is one of the best ways to protect yourself from getting illnesses. However, it can be hard to keep up consistently due to a lack of time or just plain laziness. Here are some tips to improve your personal hygiene.
What is Personal Hygiene and Why is it Important?
The World Health Organization refers to hygiene as the conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. Maintaining good personal hygiene with simple actions such as washing your hands and showering will help prevent you from spreading diseases to other people.
Here are some tips to improve your hygiene
1. Don't Shower Everyday
Though it may seem counter-intuitive, showering once a day actually leads to negative effects on your skin. According to Harvard Health Publishing, about two-thirds of Americans shower daily, but this may cause dry, irritated skin and a weakened immune system. By not showering everyday, you are saving your skin from developing problems and saving water.
2. Brush and Floss
The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day and flossing regularly to prevent oral diseases. Brushing twice a day prevents cavities by removing plaque. It also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevents gum disease. Flossing after brushing is the most important thing that you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
3.Wash Your Hands Thoroughly with Soap
Washing your hands is more important now than ever during the pandemic times. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) recommends washing your hands after eating or preparing food, and after any activity that may spread germs. The CDC also recommends taking the time to thoroughly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water. Doing so will prevent the spread of bacteria.
4. Change Your Bed Sheets
Washing bed sheets and pillow sheets can largely improve your hygiene, especially since bacteria likes to live on these surfaces. Changing your bed sheets at least once a week can prevent bacteria and dead skin cells from building up, which may cause acne and other skin conditions.
5. Close the Toilet Lid When Flushing
Closing the lid of the toilet before you flush is a simple and easy way to prevent the spread of germs. If the toilet lid isn't closed when you flush, a lot of unfriendly bacteria is going to spray all over the bathroom. According to the American Institute of Physics, a toilet flush can spray viral particles up to three feet away. Therefore, by closing the lid, you are preventing bacterial infections.
Resources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
- https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2012-archive/august/take-two-minutes-to-brush
- https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-enhealth-manual-atsi-cnt-l~ohp-enhealth-manual-atsi-cnt-l-ch3~ohp-enhealth-manual-atsi-cnt-l-ch3.7
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disease/index.html
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/showering-daily-is-it-necessary-2019062617193
- https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/teeth.html#:~:text=Giving%20Plaque%20the%20Brush%2DOff,healthy%20and%20prevent%20gum%20disease.
- https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0013318
Credits:
Created with images by Unknown - "Person Washing Hands · Free Stock Photo" • silviarita - "soap horsetail salt" • 955169 - "shower shower head water" • Bru-nO - "toothpaste toothbrush brushing teeth" • Jasmin_Sessler - "wash hands corona disinfection" • stevepb - "washing machine laundry tumble drier" • Unknown - "Crop faceless housekeeper cleaning toilet bowl · Free ..."