Personal Hygiene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When should children wash their hands?

 

· Before children prepare, handle, and serve food

· After using the bathroom.

· Before and after eating meals or snacks.

· After handling pets or other animals.

· After the child blows their nose.

· After being exposed to blood or blood-containing body fluids and tissue discharges.

 

How should children wash their hands?

 

Children should wash their hands by cleaning them with soap for at least 10 seconds using warm running water. To encourage the right length of time, have your child sing, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," twice or the, "ABC," song slowly all the way through.

 

Why is handwashing so important?

 

Handwashing has been very effective in preventing disease transmission. Handwashing is especially important for children who eat with their hands as illness can be spread in saliva, which can contain bacteria. Germs can be spread through nasal discharge, secretions from open wounds, eye discharge, and blood. Illnesses may occur from the germs being spread through coughing, sneezing, skin-to-skin contact, or by touching an object or surface that is covered with germs.

Oral Hygiene: What is the right way for children to brush?

· Start by placing the toothbrush at an angle along the outer gumline. Gently move the brush backwards and forwards on each tooth.

· Brush inside each tooth, using the same movement as before.

· Brush the chewing area of each tooth.

· Brush behind each of the front teeth from top to bottom by using the tip of the brush.

· Finally brush your tongue.

 

« Parents should take their children to the dentist by the time that the child’s first 20 teeth come in (approximately ages 2-3). Early dental visits can be very important so that the dentist can detect early problems such as tooth decay, reassure the parents that their homecare is adequate, and to help the child have a fun first visit.

 

« Providers should have an easily accessible toothbrush storage in the bathroom, with each child’s toothbrush clearly labeled. Be sure that children get in the habit of brushing.

 

1. Available Children's Books:

2.  

3. Berenstein, Stan & Jan. (1985). The Berenstein Bears Visit the Dentist. Illustrated by Stan & Jan Berenstein. New York: Random House.  

4. Falwell, Cathryn. (1996). Dragon Tooth. Illustrations by Cathryn Falwell. New York: Clarion Books.  

5. Le Sieg, Theo. (1981). The Tooth Book. Illustrated by Roy Mckie. New York: Beginner Books.  

6. McGuire, Leslie. (1993). Brush Your Teeth Please. Illustrated by JeanPidgeon. California: Reader's Digest Young Families, Inc.

 

Related Publications:

 

American Public Health Association, American Academ of Pediatrics. Caring For Our Children. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edwards Brothers. 1992.

 

Related Sites:

 

· American Public Health Association.  http://www.apha.org/

· American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/  Key word "personal hygeine".

· Colgate-Palmolive. "Child Care FAQ’s." World of Healthy Smiles-Oral Hygiene FAQ. 1998. http://www.colgate.com/Smiles/FAQ/child-7.html, http://www.colgate.com/Smiles/FAQ/child-4.html (22 Nov. 1998)

· UMBC Early Childhood Education Program. "Health and Hygiene." Children's Literature List. 1998. http://www.research.umbc.edu/education/earlychildhood/health.htm (6 Dec. 1998)

 

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