Personal Hygiene By Cathy Chang

Outline Starting Questions Definition Examples of personal hygiene Hair Body Odor Teeth Further Discussion

Starting Questions What do you think personal hygiene means? Do you think it plays an important role in your life? Why or why not? What kind of things do you do in order to maintain your personal hygiene?

Definition Personal hygiene may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. Failure to keep up a standard of hygiene can have many implications. Not only is there an increased risk of getting an infection or illness, but there are many social and psychological aspects that can be affected. (Source)

Hair: Question When you see someone with really oily/greasy or flaky hair, what is your first response? (Source)

Hair Each strand of hair has its own sebaceous (oil) gland, which keeps the hair shiny and waterproof. The release of oil is caused by hormones that are the same as the ones that causes acne. Washing your hair every day or every other day can help control oily hair. Don't scrub or rub too hard — this doesn't get rid of oil any better and can irritate your scalp or damage your hair.

Body Odor: Questions Do you have a body odor? What kind of things do you do to prevent body odors? Or think that people should do? In what situation do you feel that people’s body odor become unbearable? Give some examples. Do people from different cultures treat body odors differently? (Source)

Body Odor (I) Perspiration, or sweat, comes from sweat glands. Due to puberty, these glands not only become more active than before, but at the same time, they also begin to secrete different chemicals into the sweat that has a stronger smelling odor. Some places on the body that contribute to this odor is from the armpits, the feet, and the private places. The best way to keep clean is to bathe or shower every day, because this will help wash away any bacteria that contribute to the smells.

Body Odor (II) Some methods to prevent a strong body odor: Deodorants get rid of the odor of sweat by covering it up, and antiperspirants actually stop or dry up perspiration. Daily baths or showers and wearing clean clothes can also help “lower” body odor. Perfume

Teeth: Questions What are some ways to keep your teeth clean? Why is it important? What is your impression of people with bad teeth? Crooked teeth, teeth with cavities, nicotine-stained teeth, etc. (Source)

Teeth: Brushing Brushing and flossing properly, along with regular dental checkups, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. To prevent cavities, you need to remove plaque, the transparent layer of bacteria that coats the teeth. Brushing also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevent gum disease.

Teeth: Bad Breath Bad breath is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in the mouth. When a person doesn’t brush and floss regularly, bacteria accumulate on the bits of food left in the mouth and between the teeth. The sulfur compounds released by these bacteria make your breath smell. Certain foods, especially ones like garlic and onions that contain pungent oils, can contribute to bad breath because the oils are carried to your lungs and out through your mouth. Smoking is also a major cause of bad breath. If you brush and floss properly and visit your dentist for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or gum disease. (Source)

Teeth: Bad Breath Myths Myth #1 - Mouthwash will make bad breath go away. Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. Myth #2 - As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn't have bad breath. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, a person should brush for at least 2 minutes and at least twice a day. Brushing the tongue is important too because the bacteria loves to hang out there. Also, flossing helps remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between the teeth and gums. Myth #3 - If you breathe into your hand, you'll know when you have bad breath. When you breathe, you don't use your throat the same way you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odors from the back of your mouth where bad breath originates.

Further Discussion Are there any more methods of taking care of your personal hygiene?

Work Cited TeensHealth. 2008. Nemours Foundation. 29 Sept. 2008 <http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/>.