Martin County 4-H

PERSONAL HYGIENE

A GUIDE TO LOOKING GOOD AND FEELING GREAT.

Martin County P.O. Box 325 Inez, KY 41224-0325

(606) 298-7742 E-Mail: [email protected] UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

EETH ENE? OF YOUR T ONAL HYGI KING CARE WHAT IS PERS TA

Personal Hygiene is a items such as tissues Good dental hygiene in- Strong, healthy teeth help cludes regular brushing and you chew the right foods to routine of personal (that may have germs) flossing. Bad breath can be help you grow. They help care that keeps your into a bin, and using caused by diseases of the you speak clearly. And yes, whole body clean, protection (like teeth, gums and mouth, such they help you look your best. fresh and healthy. gloves) when you as infections. Most people have bad breath first thing in might be at risk of the morning because saliva Brush At Least Twice A catching an infection. is not made while you're Day. One of the most effec- asleep. 1. Press bristle tips against tive ways we have to When you get your picture the gum line at an angle. protect ourselves and Personal hygiene, such taken, everyone says, "Say 2. Gently scrub the inside others from illness is as bathing, is very cheese! Smile!" So you do - and outside surfaces of good personal hy- much dependent on you open your mouth and teeth, using short, back- giene. This means the culture in which show your teeth. When you and-forth strokes. Scrub see the picture, you see a the inside of front teeth washing your hands, you live. In our cul- happy person looking back with the tip of the especially, but also ture, it is expected that at you. The healthier those toothbrush. your body. It means you will wash your teeth are, the happier you 3. Scrub all chewing sur- being careful not to body at least every day look. Why is that? faces. cough or sneeze on and use deodorants to It's because your teeth are 4. Brush your tongue and important in many ways. If rinse your mouth. others, cleaning things stop body smells. you take care of them, that you touch if you Other cultures have they'll help take care of you. 5. Rinse your toothbrush. are unwell, putting different expectations. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

HYGIENE. S FOR GOOD R HANDS. TIP WASHING YOU

Prevent Body Odor Use Clean Linens and Even if your hands look • Combing hair Body smells are caused by a Underwear clean, they probably carry • Blowing your nose number of factors working • Rinse face clothes thor- germs. If you wash your in combination, including: oughly after use. hands really well with warm • Changing a diaper • soapy water, you can get rid • Handling garbage Chemicals in sweat. • Change towels and bed- of germs. Some germs can • Wastes excreted through ding often. Do not share the skin. towels. make you sick. Colds and flu can spread from one per- Hand Washing Tips • The actions of bacteria • Change underwear daily. son to another in your fam- 1. Use soap and warm run- that live on the skin and feed ily through unwashed hands. ning water. on dead skin cells and sweat. It is also easy to contaminate 2. Rub your hands vigor- • Unwashed clothes, such food with germs from dirty ously for at least 20 sec- as underwear and socks. hands. onds. Always Wash Hands 3. Wash all surfaces includ- Body odor can be prevented Before: ing back of hands, wrists, between fingers and un- by washing under arms and • Handling Food other hard to reach places der fingernails. • Eating a meal or snack thoroughly. After bathing or 4. Rinse well. showering use a deodorant After: 5. Dry hands well with pa- to mask odors or an antiper- • Handling food per towel. spirant to sweat less. Also remember to wear clean • Using the bathroom 6. Turn off the faucet with clothes such as underwear • Handling an animal paper towel you used to and socks. • Coughing or sneezing dry your hands. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

N. ILS). ODY CLEA EARS AND NA ENTIRE B ARE AREAS ( KEEP YOUR SPECIAL C

Take Baths or Showers especially between toes. Do Ears use a cotton swab. This can Every Day. not forget to change socks As body parts go, your ears push wax deeper in your ear, Be sure to: daily. don't ask for much. All your where it can get stuck. Irri- ears need is to be washed tating the ear canal can even • Wash all parts of your lead to an ear canal infec- body. Wash Your Hair regularly, so wash them with soap and water while you're tion. . • Rinse Well. Regularly. taking a bath or shower. • Dry well, especially in Hair cannot be washed too Nails tight places, such as be- often! Our ancestors rarely tween your toes. washed their hair, however it The Facts on Earwax • Keep nails clean. Trim You might wonder about them regularly. is common practice for us to wash our hair every day, earwax and whether it needs • Do not cut cuticles or Wash Your Face Every even several times a day if to be cleaned out. Actually, use chemicals on them. Day. even though earwax seems needed. Today's shampoos • Clip hangnails to avoid Use a mild soap and warm do not damage hair. Their yucky, it serves a purpose. Your ear canal makes earwax tearing skin. Never bite water. Hot water, harsh conditioning agents protect or pull them. soap and vigorous scrubbing the cuticle against harm to protect the ear. If you can dry out or irritate your from brushing and combing. want, you can clean the • To help prevent ingrown skin. How often you should opening of your ear gently toenails, cut nails straight with a washcloth. You across. shampoo could depend on your hair type, how active should not put anything in Caring For Your Feet. your ear smaller than your you are, the weather or other Wash your feet every day factors. elbow. You can hurt your ear while showering or bathing. by poking around in there. Be sure to dry thoroughly, It's not even a good idea to