One of the best ways to maintain good overall health and wellness is to maintain proper personal hygiene. Personal hygiene helps you to stay clean, giving you a boost in confidence and positively impacting personal relationships, as well as reduce the risk for disease and negative medical conditions that stem from bad hygiene. Keep reading for ten ways you’re able to practice proper personal hygiene.
10 Personal Hygiene Practices
1. Wash Your Hands Frequently
Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of disease. You should especially wash your hands before and after you eat, after going to the bathroom and when you come into contact with someone who is sick. In order to achieve effective results, make sure you wash your hands properly.
- Wet your hands with clean water and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them thoroughly with soap.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well.
- Dry your hands with a towel or air dry.
2. Bathe
Cleaning your body washes away dead skin cells and dirt and helps fight the spread of disease. For older adults, it’s recommended to shower or take a bath at least twice a week to achieve the positive effects.
3. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Make sure you are brushing your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, to maintain good oral hygiene along with regular dental checkups.
4. Floss Your Teeth Daily
In addition to brushing your teeth, floss your teeth once a day for optimal oral hygiene.
5. Take Care of Your Nails
Cleaning and trimming your nails reduces your risk of hangnails and infected nail beds.
6. Wear Clean Clothes
After you wear clothes, wash them with a detergent and dry them immediately upon rinsing. Dirty clothes can harbor bacteria that could lead to body odor or even skin irritations.
7. Cover Your Mouth When Your Cough or Sneeze
This is extremely important to avoid spreading germs to people around you.
8. Get Restful Sleep
Restful sleep is essential to wellbeing, no matter your age. It is recommended for all adults to sleep between seven to nine hours a night.
9. Create a Routine
Whatever your process may be to maintain good personal hygiene, make either a mental checklist or write it down. This way, you’ll remember and keep up with the steps you need to take to stay clean and healthy.
10. Visit the Doctor
Maintaining regular healthcare appointments can help you catch infections and illnesses early, making it easier to treat them. Visit your healthcare provider when you have a concern and schedule routine check-ups.
Sources:
- All photos used in this blogpost are sourced from the internet, and the rights belong to their respective owners
- Danica. (2020, April 10). Personal Hygiene Tips for a Healthy You. Retrieved from https://mooringsatlewes.org/news/10-personal-hygiene-practices/