Common Hygiene Habits That Aren't As Healthy As You Think

While practicing good hygiene is something that's often taught to us at an early age and we probably don't think twice about anymore, some of those practices we learned so long ago can be, well, a bit outdated. Furthermore, what constitutes "good" hygiene to one person can actually be surprisingly unhygienic to another. To provide an all-encompassing definition of personal hygiene, experts at Medical News Today explain that personal hygiene is essentially making sure the external parts of the body are both "clean and healthy," and that staying on top of these habits helps to support both physical and mental health. If personal hygiene habits are not maintained, an accumulation of germs on the body could make it prone to infection. Brushing your teeth, washing your hands, keeping your nails clean, and bathing regularly are all examples of ways to practice good personal hygiene. However, with all of these habits, there are certain "upgrades" that can be applied based on new research to make them even healthier. While some of your habits might just need a light tweak, others are downright dangerous and should probably be eliminated from your routine altogether. Continue reading to discover common hygiene practices that may not be as good for you as you think.

While it might seem logical to wait to brush your teeth until after you've washed down your breakfast with a delicious cup of coffee, dentists across the nation are clutching their pearls at this hygiene mistake. According to experts at Healthline, while you sleep, the bacteria in your mouth multiply, leading to dreaded "morning breath" and an overall unpalatable taste. When you brush your teeth right away instead of waiting until after breakfast, the teeth are cleansed and a protective barrier is placed over the enamel which can protect it from acidic breakfast foods such as orange juice, coffee, and even toast. Experts at the site also explain that brushing your teeth actually "jumpstarts" the production of saliva, which can help break down food and kill bacteria in your mouth. Furthermore, taking a toothbrush to your teeth after your morning meal can spread around the acidic remnants of the aforementioned breakfast foods, which can lead to a breakdown of your enamel. If you must brush your teeth after breakfast, experts at Healthline suggest waiting 30 minutes to an hour after you've eaten, particularly if you've had acidic foods such as coffee and citrus juice.

While reaching for those baby wipes after sitting on the porcelain throne may seem like the habit of a civilized human being, you might actually want to reconsider this one. While it's understandable to want to feel sparkling clean with no trace left ... behind ... experts caution against this seemingly healthy habit. Evan Goldstein, anal surgeon and founder of Future Method, spoke to Well + Good to explain exactly why this isn't the best idea. Like the rest of our body, our anal region is covered in both good and bad bacteria — and as Goldstein says, "This is important, so when you start to augment that [microbiome] with wet wipes, what happens is that you're wiping away the good bacteria and the balance becomes a problem. With the homeostasis in the biome altered, bad bacteria starts to populate fungus or irritation, which I see all of the time." Goldstein goes on to explain that because most people tend to use wipes, pull up their pants, and run, the moisture left over from the wipes just sits on the rear, which can lead to further irritation and discomfort.

Douching has long been on the black list of outdated habits that most people would hesitate to admit they do. However, researchers estimate that a surprising 20% to 40% of women are still using douches regularly, which means there needs to be continuing education on the myths and risks surrounding this use of this product, according to Everyday Health. Experts at the site explain that douching is the act of washing or rinsing the vagina with water or another product. The douche itself is a bottle-like apparatus which allows users to squeeze the liquid into the vagina to "cleanse" it, and ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and perfume have been known to be included in these mixtures. 

However, there is a consensus among experts that douching provides no real benefit, and can actually cause harm in the region. This is because the vagina is self-cleaning and has a delicate pH balance that can be easily thrown off by douching. According to Beverly Whipple, professor emerita at Rutgers University and secretary general of the World Association for Sexual Health: "Douching flushes out the normal bacteria in the vagina that are there to fight vaginal infections. It was used for medical treatment until the mid-20th Century, when it was found that it was not healthy," she told Everyday Health. 

It's understandable — cotton swabs really are the perfect size to stick into your ear canal to clear out wax. However, according to Healthline, while they are safe to use to clean out the outer ear, using them in the inner ear could lead to a whole host of problems. Contrary to popular belief, that earwax you are so eager to get rid of is actually healthy and serves a good purpose. Experts at the site explain that earwax helps keep your ears from drying out, and can trap dirt and bacteria, helping to prevent infection. One of the side effects of using a cotton swab to clean out wax from the ear canal is that you can actually push it further in, leading to a compaction of wax. This prevents the wax from clearing away naturally, leading to a buildup which can cause pain and muffled hearing. Furthermore, it's possible to injure yourself by inserting the swab too far in, which can lead to a ruptured eardrum. Ears are self-cleaning, and it is typically unnecessary to clean them out yourself, according to Healthline. However, when earwax does make its way from the canal to the outer ear, it is safe to gently wipe away excess with either a cotton swab or a warm cloth.

Some habits are hard to break. For those who are used to shampooing their hair on the daily, it might be hard to envision a routine that doesn't involve reaching for shampoo and conditioner every time you step into the shower. It's likely that the main reason you're invested in your daily shampoo habit is because you want to get rid of the oils on your scalp. However, according to experts at Healthline, the oil, otherwise known as sebum, serves a good purpose. Sebum actively contributes to making hair healthy and shiny, and a lack of it can actually make it feel coarse and contribute to dryness. The amount of sebum that each person produces can be different, and genetics, age, sex, and environment are four contributing factors to how much oil one may have on their scalp. Experts also explain that those who have more fragile hair texture may only need to wash their hair every other week, while those who have stronger hair can get away with washing it once every couple days. Furthermore, straight hair needs to be washed more frequently than curly hair, and African American textures may only need to be washed one time a week, or even every two weeks, according to the site.

If you've ever worried about how you smell or just want to make sure you're staying as clean as possible, you might lean toward taking multiple showers a day to alleviate those concerns. While it may seem logical, unfortunately science isn't on your side with this one. According to experts at WebMD, taking too many showers can actually strip your skin of its protective barrier and lead to dryness and a whole host of other problems. Our skin is home to good bacteria that help keep it both moisturized and free of "bad" bacteria. Bathing too much can strip that layer of good bacteria, drying the skin out and leading to itching, irritation, cracking, thus making it vulnerable to infection. Experts at WebMD also explain that our immune systems actually benefit from some level of germs, and that if they are consistently removed, our bodies cannot produce the right antibodies to help fight infection. So how often should you be showering, then? The site explains that there is not one answer that works for everyone, but that it is typically safe to shower once every day, but that two to three times a week may even be healthier.

Using a large dose of mouthwash may seem like a good choice when it comes to maintaining dental hygiene. While using it in moderate amounts can contribute to an overall improvement in oral health, there are some factors to take into consideration regarding how much mouthwash you should be using, and whether using it will actually help you at all. According to experts at Healthline, sodium laurel sulfate, a common ingredient found in mouthwash, could be a potential irritant for someone who has canker sores, and may potentially trigger an outbreak in those who are prone to getting them. Furthermore, the site notes that most mouthwashes are alcohol based, which can contribute to mouth dryness as well as burning and irritation. As for mouthwashes that are made without alcohol, using them could actually contribute to eliminating the healthy bacteria that make up the "oral microbiome" in your mouth, which is what helps you break down food and keeps your gums healthy. Furthermore, the site explains that some synthetic ingredients in mouthwash have even been linked to certain cancers.