Good Hygiene: Starting to use a deodorant

Here's a good entry from about.com on how and when to start using a deodorant.

Most kids need to begin using a deodorant when they are going through puberty. Some have noticeable body odor and need to use a deodorant every day even before they start puberty though.

Puberty

Since body odor is linked to puberty, the first step is determining if they have started puberty. Keep in mind that girls typical start puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, while boys start when they are between 9 and 14 years old. So your son would definitely be too young to be normally starting puberty already.

Signs of starting puberty might include breast development (in your daughter), pubic hair, or underarm (axillary) hair. If you do notice any of these signs, talk to your Pediatrician.

Controlling Body Odor

Whether or not they are starting puberty, if they have a 'very strong body odor,' then you want to help them control it. In addition to considering using a deodorant, you might make sure that they practice these general personal hygiene basics, including that they:

• take a daily bath or shower
• take their bath or shower in the morning, so that there are fewer bacteria on their skin to make their sweat smell
• take another bath or shower after activities and sports when they sweat a lot
• actually wash with soap and a washcloth all over, including their armpits, genitals, and feet, when they take a bath or shower
• wear clean underwear, socks, and other clothes each day
• wear loose fitting cotton clothing that may help them to sweat less
• watch their diet to see if something they are eating, like garlic, onions, or spicy food, is causing, or at least contributing, to the BO

You might also change the brand of soap they are using and even consider using an antibacterial deodorant soap, like Dial.

If these tips don't stop the BO, you may have to consider using a deodorant already. Since there aren't any deodorants that are designed for children at this age, you might consider using one for pre-teens or teens.

And since they are a little younger than average to need a deodorant, be sure to talk to your Pediatrician about this too.

Good Hygiene: How to Clean Our Ears?

It is not advised to clean our ears everyday because earwax can be necessary to our system from dirt and bacteria.  But of course, for good hygiene's sake, we need to clean our ears.

So here's an "How to clean your ears" from ehow.com

Good Hygiene:  Steps on How to Clean your Ears.


Step 1
Head to the local grocery store and buy an ear wax removal kit. Murine makes a great kit that comes complete with a soft bulb ear syringe.

Step 2
Follow the directions on the bottle. It usually requires you to put 5 to 10 drops in your ear and lay on your side for several minutes.

Step 3
Hold your head over the sink and rinse your ears out with room temperature water using the soft bulb ear syringe.

Step 4
Clean the outer edges and behind your ears with soap and warm water using a wash cloth. To clean the ear canal use your fingertip and the wash cloth and gently wash without going too deep. Dry your ears.

Step 5
Saturate a Q-tip with rubbing alcohol and wipe the outer folds of your ears. Dip a cotton ball into the rubbing alcohol and wipe behind your ears and the backside of your ears.

Hope this article from ehow.com can help you in attaining good hygiene for your ears.

Good Hygiene: How to Brush Your Teeth?

What's the good hygiene for our teeth? What's the right way of brushing our teeth? When do we really brush our teeth? Is the toothbrush I'm using the right toothbrush? Am I using the right toothpaste?  So, as part of really knowing the best way to keep our hygiene healthy, i've researched the world wide web on the basics on how to brush our teeth.



Good Hygiene:  9 Steps of Brushing your teeth from wikihow.com

The Steps on Brushing One's teeth

1. Use the proper toothbrush. It should have soft nylon bristles and a small head. Soft bristles are gentler on your gums and will flex more easily to reach between the teeth while a small head allows you to reach all areas of your mouth.
2. Wet your toothbrush slightly. By doing this, your gums will not be torn by the sharp bristles of the toothbrush.
3. Squeeze a pea-size amount of toothpaste onto your toothbrush. Your toothpaste should contain fluoride and be recognized by your local dental association.
4. Start on the inside of the lower front teeth, with the handle parallel to the row of teeth, just as you would to brush the outside of the same teeth. The concentrated "pea of toothpaste" will work harder at retarding the tartar that tends to accumulate here first.
5. Tilt your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your gums and wiggle the brush on the bristle tips, working on just two teeth at a time, for 5-10 seconds. Clean the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth, as well as the chewing or "horizontal" surfaces.
6. Brush (wiggle) along the gum line. This is extremely important, as gum disease starts here. Brush gently to avoid damaging your gums. Pressing harder does more damage than good. Make sure to get behind the molars at the back, where bacteria like to hide.
7. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
8. Rinse your mouth out with water.
9. Floss after brushing. This helps get rid of bacteria and plaque between your teeth that you could not reach with your toothbrush.

Apart from the Steps, here are also Tips on Brushing Your Teeth

• Brushing should take about 2 to 4 minutes.
• At the very least, brush your teeth in the morning and before bed. Brush after every meal if possible.
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 months, if the bristles look worn, or after recovering from a cold/virus.
• Visit a dentist at least every six months for an exam, x-rays and a cleaning.
• Consider using mouthwash after you brush for a fresh, clean feeling and added protection. However, if you do use mouthwash, use one that is clear and alcohol-free. Colored formulas can stain teeth over time, and alcohol deteriorates gum tissue.
• Most people follow the same routine while brushing. Consider switching it up occasionally to avoid missing the same spots repeatedly.
• Try to brush your teeth after drinking coffee, red wine, or dark teas or sodas. Over time, they can stain teeth permanently.

 source:  wikihow.com

Hope this helps you guys out there in attaining good hygiene for your teeth.