10 Reasons for Personal Hygiene

Proper personal hygiene means taking care of every aspect of your body, from keeping it clean to looking your best 1. Basic hygiene should be taught to children at an early age to help establish good habits. Parents can reinforce good hygienic behavior by creating routines and being good role models. Personal hygiene practices include bathing, washing your hands, keeping your hair clean and brushing your teeth. Your personal, social and professional worlds are all affected by hygiene habits.

Disease Prevention

Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of disease. Each time you use the restroom, wash your hands before leaving the area to remove germs. Wash your hands before you handle food, eat or take out contact lenses.

Nice Smile

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Most people want to keep their teeth and have attractive smiles. This requires frequent brushing and good dental habits. If you fail to brush your teeth, they are more likely to become discolored, get cavities and possibly fall out. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, regular brushing and flossing can significantly decrease the risk of gum disease, which can cause bad breath or even worse—tooth loss.

Lower Health Care Costs

Since it curbs the spread of disease, good hygiene results in lower health care costs. Brushing your teeth and keeping clean could eliminate unnecessary visits to your dentist and doctor, saving you money.

Dandruff Prevention

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Good hygiene includes washing your hair and brushing it regularly to prevent dandruff and other scalp diseases. It's embarrassing when you glance down at your dark shirt and see white skin flakes that everyone else has probably already noticed.

Self-Esteem

When you're clean, you'll feel much better about yourself than when you're dirty 1. People will react more positively to you, which will also help raise your self-esteem.

Sex Appeal

You are more likely to appeal to a potential partner if you practice good hygiene. Dirty hair, discolored teeth and bad breath can keep you from having romance in your life.

Social Acceptance

Good hygiene is critical for social acceptance, because most people don't want to be around others who are dirty or smelly. Children who practice good hygiene eliminate one major reason for other kids to make fun of or bully them. It's sad to see someone on the playground getting taunted for smelling bad or having dirty hair.

Professional Acceptance

Most employers prefer employees who are clean and well-groomed. Good hygiene can make the difference in being hired and getting promotions.

Being a Role Model

Parents should set an example for their children by practicing good hygiene 1. Children are more likely to do what you do than what you say 1.

Pain Prevention

Periodontal disease can cause chronic mouth pain in advanced stages, the American Academy of Periodontology reports. The main cause of gum disease is plaque buildup, which can be reduced with proper oral hygiene.