Why is Personal Hygiene Important?

Personal hygiene is how you take care of your body. Maintaining hygiene practices reduces the spread of illness and risk of medical conditions caused by not taking care of yourself. It also increases self-confidence and positively impacts personal relationships. Keep reading for hygiene practices that help contribute to your overall health and wellness.

Best Hygiene Practices for You to Incorporate in Everyday Life

Wash Your Hands Frequently: Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to maintain personal hygiene and stop the spread of disease. You should be washing your hands frequently throughout the day and especially after tasks such as taking out the garbage, using the restroom, blowing your nose, coughing and coming into contact with someone who may be sick. In order to benefit from washing your hands, you need to make sure you are doing it properly. Remember these five steps to washing your hands:

1. Wet your hands with clean water and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them thoroughly with soap.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse your hands well.
5. Dry your hands with a towel or air dry.

Bathe: While older adults don’t necessarily need to bathe daily, it is recommended to shower or take a bath at least twice a week. Similar to washing your hands, washing your body removes dead skin cells and dirt and is a preventative measure to reduce the risk and spread of disease.

Wear Clean Clothes: After wearing clothes, wash them with a detergent and dry them immediately after rinsing. Dirty clothes could harbor bacteria that leads to body odor or could even result in a skin infection.

Brush and Floss Your Teeth Daily: Oral hygiene is crucial to keep in mind when considering personal hygiene practices. Brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, and floss at least once a day. Also be sure to maintain regular dental checkups.

Get Restful Sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential to our overall wellbeing. It is recommended that all adults should get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Create a Routine: In order to maintain good personal hygiene practices, it’s best to create a routine. This way, you’ll make a daily list of things you need to do to stay clean and healthy and make sure you continue to practice proper personal hygiene.

Learn More About Wellness at The Oaks at Denville

At The Oaks at Denville, our continuum of care addresses all aspects of wellbeing. With daily activities and onsite amenities through LivWell, our award-winning holistic wellness program, you can learn healthy lifestyle tips to achieve your own personal goals. You’re able to improve on your wellness by engaging in your choice of activities and programs.

Learn more about ways to improve on wellness in our senior living community by contacting our team today.