BODY
True or False: Showering once a week is enough
FALSE:
we should shower every other day or every third day in order to prevent bacteria from growing on our skin.
Bacteria on our skin causes symptoms like itching in skin folds, body odor, and infections like jock itch, acne and rashes
True or False:
Everyone should wash their hair the same amount
FALSE!
Depending on your hair texture, style and the products you use, you may need to wash your hair every 1-2 days, or you may be able to go as long as two weeks between washes.
True or false:
You should wash you face every day
TRUE!
Even if it's not a shower day, our faces still need to be washed to prevent buildup of oil, dirt, air pollutants and bacteria. All of these things clog pores and lead to acne and skin infection.
True or False:
If you haven't eaten anything, you don't need to brush you teeth.
FALSE!
Our teeth need brushing every day, twice a day, to prevent cavities and plaque build up. Odor-causing bacteria grows in our mouth in a matter of hours. We may not be able to smell our bad breathe, because we get used to it, but others can!
True or False:
Washing your hands regularly is the best way to prevent colds and flu
TRUE!
The best way to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, and several other times during the day.
True or false:
The best way to prevent body odor is to put deodorant on every day
FALSE!
The best way to prevent body odor is to wash areas that get sweaty every day (pits and bits!). Once you are clean and have washed away the odor-causing bacteria, put underarm deodorant on to prevent body odor for the rest of the day.
True or False:
combing you hair in the shower with conditioner makes it a lot easier to brush or comb after you shower
TRUE!
Running your fingers or a wide-toothed comb through you hair while conditioner is in it, helps detangle your hair when it's slippery and prevents tangles and knots!
True or False:
You can often prevent ingrown hair from shaving by exfoliating afterwards
TRUE!
using a face scrub, rough wash cloth or exfoliating face wash after shaving helps to unclog hair follicles and encourage hair to grow outward instead of curling back under the skin and causing an ingrown hair
True or False:
You should brush your teeth for 2 minutes
TRUE!
You should spend 30 seconds on each section of your teeth: Top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right. As you brush, get your teeth from all angles. You don't need to push hard!
True or False:
Washing your hands for 30 seconds gets them nice and clean!
TRUE!
Rub the back of your hands, between your fingers, your thumbs, and palms. Our skin is textured, so it takes some serious scrubbing to kill the germs.
True or False:
body wash and bar soap are equally good options for washing your body
TRUE!
The important thing about choosing a soap is that it doesn't irritate or overly dry your skin. Choose a mild soap like Dove or Aveeno, or look for one that is unscented if you have sensitive skin.
True or False:
If you have braids or cornrows you don't need to wash your hair
FALSE!
With braids, locs or cornrows, you don't need to wash your hair as often, but your scalp still produces oil and sheds dry skin, creating an environment for bacteria. You should still wash your hair every 2-4 weeks with these hairstyles.
True or False:
If you have dark skin, you don't need sunscreen
FALSE!
Sun screen is for everyone. Applying a facial sunscreen daily helps prevent skin cancer caused by UV rays. The most common place for this type of cancer is the top of the ears and nose.
True or False:
If you have medicaid insurance, you probably don't have dental insurance
FALSE!
Most medicaid plans include dental care that covers professional cleanings twice per year, and fillings for cavities.
True or False:
Long nails are unhygienic
FALSE!
Long nails, both natural or acrylic, can be clean and hygienic. You just have to make sure you are gently scrubbing under them each day to prevent dirt and germs. The best way to do this is with a soft nail brush.
True or False:
On days you don't shower, you should still wash or wipe down a couple "priority" areas
TRUE!
Priority areas include you face, under your arms, and between your legs. These areas get sweaty and harbor bacteria which can cause infection and lead to body odor even after just one day of being unwashed.
True or False:
Dry shampoo doesn't take the place of showering with regular shampoo
TRUE!
Dry shampoo can be used to absorb oil between washings, but it doesn't clean your hair or get rid of dirt or dander. You should still wash your hair with water and shampoo.
True or False:
If you are washing you face daily and still have acne, there's not much you can do about it.
FALSE!
Many people deal with acne even if they have great hygiene. You can visit a doctor who can prescribe medicated creams or washes to help your acne. These are often covered by insurance.
True or false:
If you have an infected tooth, antibiotics are all you need
FALSE!
Antibiotics will help the infection, but if you don't get the cavity or broken tooth fixed, it will keep coming back. These infections are dangerous because they very easily get into your blood stream and can cause heart problems.
True or False:
You can get you hands clean without soap
FALSE!
Soap is what breaks up the oils on our hands that dirt and germs cling to. Washing your hand without soap, even if you scrub them, leaves most of the germs still on them.
True or False:
You should only use a wash cloth to wash you body
FALSE!
You can use a wash cloth, a loofa, or a silicone scrubber. The important thing is that a wash cloth or loofa gets washed with your laundry once a week, and has a chance to dry out after you use it.
True or False:
The best way to detangle hair is to start from the ends and work your way towards your scalp in small sections.
TRUE!
Take one section at a time and detangle from the bottom. For fine and straight hair, you can use a densely bristled brush, and for more textured hair, use a wide-bristled comb, pick or brush.
True or False:
It's a good idea to clean earwax out of your ears with Q-tips
FALSE!
You don't need to clean your ear canals. Using a Q-tip in you ear pushes the wax further back, leading to clogged ears. Only wash the outer part of your ear. Clean this part and behind your ears daily with a damp cloth.
True or False:
If you start brushing or flossing after not doing it regularly, your gums might bleed
TRUE!
And this is ok! Be a little gentler, but don't stop. Your mouth just needs time to get used to brushing or flossing, and the bleeding will soon stop.
True or False:
Your nails can give you clues about you nutrition.
TRUE!
Our nails are more likely to have dents and grow with raised "stripes" if we aren't getting the nutrition we need. Nails that bend and break easily can also be caused by poor nutrition.