The daily habits that keep body, food, home and surroundings clean and the germs away.
↔ Swipe the diagram sideways to see all of it
Hygiene is the set of habits that keep us clean and free of disease. Bathe daily and wash hands with soap, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Wash hair regularly, keep nails short and clean, wear clean clothes and do not share towels, combs or handkerchiefs. Care for the eyes (read in good light, do not rub them, wash with clean water), the ears (never push sharp objects inside; wax protects them) and the teeth.
Why should we wash hands before eating?
Hands pick up germs; washing with soap removes them so they do not enter the mouth with food.
Why should we not poke our ears with pins?
It can damage the eardrum and push wax deeper; ear wax itself traps dust and germs.
Why should towels and combs not be shared?
Germs and lice can spread from one person to another through them.
A tooth has hard white enamel over bony dentine around a central pulp with nerves and blood vessels. After eating, bacteria in the mouth act on sugar and leave plaque, a sticky film; the acids it makes dissolve enamel and cause dental caries (decay). Brush twice a day, rinse after meals, avoid too many sweets and toffees, eat crunchy fruit and visit a dentist twice a year.
If a child brushes 2 times a day for 2 minutes, how many minutes is that in a year of 365 days?
2 × 2 × 365 = 1,460 minutes (about 24 hours).
How does sugar cause tooth decay?
Bacteria change sugar into acids, which dissolve the enamel and make a cavity.
Name the hardest part of a tooth.
Enamel.
Eat fresh, covered food; wash fruits and vegetables; drink boiled or filtered water; keep kitchens clean. Adults need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep, school children 9 to 11, and regular exercise keeps the heart, lungs and muscles healthy. Good posture protects the spine. Community hygiene means safe disposal of waste, clean drains, no stagnant water (where mosquitoes breed) and clean public places.
A person should drink about 2 litres of water a day. How many 250 mL glasses is this?
2 × 1000 ÷ 250 = 8 glasses.
Why should stagnant water be removed from around the house?
Mosquitoes breed in it and spread malaria and dengue.
Why is it unsafe to eat food left uncovered?
Flies carry germs from dirt and waste and leave them on the food.
1. What is hygiene?
2. Name three habits of personal hygiene.
3. What is plaque?
4. What is dental caries?
5. Why should we eat fruits and vegetables after washing them?
6. How does exercise help the body?
7. Why is enough sleep important?
8. Name two diseases that spread through contaminated water.
9. How many 250 mL glasses make 3 litres?
10. Why is public cleanliness everyone's duty?