You can encourage your child by letting them choose a razor and shaving cream. When your child starts to develop facial hair, you might need to give them some advice about when to start shaving and how to do it. For example, you might need to talk with your child about how often to change their pad, tampon or period-proof underwear, and how to dispose of or clean it hygienically. Your child will need help to manage their periods at first. You can read more about dental care for pre-teens and dental care for teenagers. Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing and going to the dentist regularly are vital if your child wants to avoid bad breath, gum problems and tooth decay. Good dental and mouth hygiene is as important now as it was when your child was little, and you’ll need to keep making regular dental appointments for your child. It’s a good idea to encourage your child to alternate shoes and to wear cotton socks instead of ones made from synthetic fibres. Your child can avoid this issue by giving their feet extra attention in the shower, and making sure they’re completely dry before putting shoes on. Smelly feet and shoes can also be a problem for teenagers, whether they’re sporty or not. Antiperspirants stop BO by controlling how much your child sweats. Note that there are many products that are deodorants but not antiperspirants. You can encourage your child to do this by letting them choose one. The onset of puberty is also a good time for your child to start using antiperspirant deodorant. These clothes collect dead skin cells, sweat and body fluids, which bacteria love to eat. Changing underwear and other clothes worn next to the skin is especially important. If your child washes their body and changes their clothes regularly, especially after physical activity, it’ll help to reduce the build-up of bacteria and avoid BO. Skin bacteria feed on the sweat this type of gland produces, and this can lead to body odour (BO). When children reach puberty, a new type of sweat gland develops in their armpits and genital areas. As an example of what germs can do, you could remind them of the last time a bout of ‘gastro’ or flu went through home or school. You can explain to your child that keeping their body clean – especially their hands – is part of staying healthy. If your child sees you showering, cleaning your teeth and washing your hands regularly, they’ll learn that these habits are important. You can also be a great role model for your child by demonstrating good personal hygiene habits. The earlier you can start having these conversations, the better – ideally, before your child hits puberty. You’ve got an important role to play in making sure your child knows about how their body and hygiene needs are going to change, and in getting your child ready to manage the changes. Helping your child manage personal hygiene If your child’s body and breath smell OK, their clothes are clean, and they're on top of their basic personal hygiene, it can help your child feel comfortable with other people. For example, the simple act of washing hands before eating and after using the toilet is a proven and effective way of fighting off germs and avoiding sickness.īeing clean is also an important part of confidence for teenagers. Keeping clean is an important part of staying healthy. And if you’ve got open, honest communication with your child, it’ll make it easier to talk about the personal hygiene issues that come up in adolescence. Good hygiene habits in childhood are a great foundation for good hygiene in the teenage years. And just like when your child was younger, you might need to help them get started. It’s a time when your child’s changing body means that personal hygiene will need to change too – for example, your child will need to start using deodorant. You had to help your child with things like cleaning and flossing teeth, at least to start with.Īdolescence is a time to build on these basics. When your child was younger, you taught your child the basics of good hygiene – washing hands, covering their mouth when they cough, and having regular baths or showers. Helping pre-teens and teenagers build personal hygiene habits
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