What Is the Importance of Good Personal Hygiene?
Good personal hygiene can be highly beneficial to a person's health, social life, and professional interactions. Maintaining a reasonable level of hygiene through regular bathing and grooming can prevent the development of unpleasant and harmful health problems, particularly relating to the skin and teeth. An individual with good hygiene is also unlikely to look or smell in a way that may make others, such as friends and coworkers, uncomfortable. In some professions, particularly healthcare and those that require close contact with other people, it is essential for preventing the spread of infections. A simple but consistent daily regimen is all that is needed to maintain good personal hygiene and to reap the personal, social, and health benefits that doing so confers.
A person can gain many potential health benefits by keeping up a minimum level of personal hygiene through regular bathing, grooming, and the practice of various household and professional sanitary habits. Brushing and flossing the teeth regularly, for instance, significantly decreases the risk of problems such as cavities, gum disease, and gingivitis, all of which can be costly and unpleasant issues to correct. Likewise, trimming the fingernails and toenails can help prevent painful hangnails and infections in the nail beds. Other practices, such as regular bathing and hand washing, can also help prevent the development and spread of illnesses and promote overall good health.

The benefits of good personal hygiene can be as important to a person's social and professional life as they can be to his personal health. People tend to prefer to spend time with others who appear clean and who are not regularly surrounded by unpleasant body odors. Poor hygiene may give employers and coworkers the impression that the person is disorganized and messy. People tend to be more comfortable around others who have good hygiene as well, and employers may find that an individual who is clean and well-groomed appears organized and well put together.

It is important to follow a regimen of hygienic practices, usually in the form of a daily cleaning ritual. Dirt accumulates over time, hair and fingernails grow, and bacteria and food particles collect in the mouth and around the teeth if individuals do not regularly engage in proper bathing and grooming. Though it may be difficult to start a new hygiene regimen, over time, it will likely become easy to maintain because the regular, repeated nature of most practices tend to encourage good personal hygiene.
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Discussion Comments
Is flossing necessary for good oral hygiene or is brushing twice a day enough?
@anamur-- Not everyone's body is the same. Some of us sweat more than others and some of us have stronger scents than others.
If people have suggested to you that you have an odor, you probably do. You might have become accustomed to it and might not be noticing it. Try showering every day. Make sure to wash your hair properly with shampoo and use soap or body wash for your body.
Showering is not enough though. You must change into fresh, clean clothes after showering. Never change back into your clothes which have sweat and dirt on it. Do laundry often and use an anti-perspiration product under your arms.
What you eat can affect your smell as well. Spicy foods and garlic, for example, are known for causing strong and offensive body odors. Try to avoid these during the day when you're outside.
Personal hygiene is not just for others to accept us and like us. It's also a sign of self-respect. We shouldn't settle for anything less than perfect hygiene.
If despite all these precautions, you continue to have problems, speak with a doctor. Certain health conditions can cause excessive sweating and/or bodily odors and you might need treatment.
My friends have started distancing themselves from me lately. I see them making weird faces in the locker room while I'm changing. I don't know if I have a bad odor or something. I don't notice anything odd with myself. One girl asked me last week how often I shower. I shower every other day. Should I be showering every day?
I'm losing my self-esteem, what should I do?
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