By David Hurtado
Our hands are vital when it comes to the everyday hustle and bustle; without them, we couldn’t prepare food, grip tools or greet friends.
However, these same hands that allow us to construct skyscrapers or paint a canvas of stars also serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. From shaking someone’s hand to using that dingy gas station bathroom, our hands are constantly under assault from unseen microbes.
Karen LaMartina, nursing director, said having good personal hygiene is where healthy practices begin. She said it’s vital to wash our hands thoroughly to limit exposure to harmful pathogens.
“Certainly our hands are one of the big ways we tend to get sick,” LaMartina said. “Through shaking hands, it’s a point of entry. If you touch any of the mucus membranes on your eyes, mouth or nose, that’s how those viruses and microorganisms get into our system. I think our hands are vulnerable, that’s why we stress good hand washing.”
According to the CDC, hand washing can reduce the risk for respiratory disease by 16 percent. The CDC also estimates washing hands thoroughly with soap and water can reduce diarrheal disease related deaths by up to 50 percent.
The introduction of hand sanitizer in 1988 provided an alternative means of cleansing the hands of germs, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s it gained popularity. LaMartina said she felt hand sanitizers could sometimes be overused.
“There really isn’t a substitute for good, vigorous hand washing with soap and warm water,” LaMartina said. “If you don’t have access to soap and water then sure, hand sanitizers are fine, but I don’t consider them to be a substitute. If they’re overused, they can cause you to build up some resistance to the normal flora of bacteria that reside on our skin. If you knock all that out, that can actually knock out some of that defense system of our immune system.”
Diseases that can be contracted due to inadequate personal hygiene include Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Gastroenteritis.
Hassaan Shaikh, student, said a time he’s had to deal with someone else having poor personal hygiene was during a meeting at Chipotle. An acquaintance Shaikh was seated near neglected to wash his hands.
“He had dirty hands and he didn’t wash them and he started eating with those,” Shaikh said. “I really didn’t like it and I told him to go ahead and wash his hands because we were sharing a table and I didn’t like it.”
In addition to personal hygiene, oral hygiene is essential for maintaining a healthy body. Like our hands, our teeth are responsible for many different tasks. Breaking down food or forming words to converse with others would be challenging with just two toothless gums.
Margaret LoGiudice, dental hygiene director, said brushing your teeth should be done after every meal, up and down in small circles. LoGiudice said brushing horizontally should be avoided because it can lead to abrasions along the gum line. She also said mouthwash is no substitute for a full two minutes of brushing with toothpaste.
“Mouthwash can do some things, but the important thing about plaque is that you remove it, physically from your teeth,” LoGiudice said. “That’s where the brushing comes in. Mouthwash can boost that if you have some problem areas and can decrease the bacteria in the mouth. It doesn’t take the place of brushing.”
LoGiudice also said sharing a toothbrush with other people should be avoided. If the brush is still wet, bacteria are still alive and growing and can cause an array of health problems. This is caused by residue food particles that are naked to the human eye after brushing.
Common symptoms of poor oral hygiene include tartar, cavities and gingivitis. Red, bleeding or puffy gums are all signs of inflammation. LoGiudice said you can’t always tell if infection is present just by feel alone.
“That’s one of the biggest problems, because gum disease doesn’t always hurt,” LoGiudice said. “It might be a little sensitive to hot or cold, but it’s not a thing that you’re aware of all the time. Your gums will probably bleed.”
LaMartina said the best way to ensure a healthy body and good personal hygiene is eating a healthy amount of fruits and vegetables.
“The better nourished you are, the better your diet exercise and rest are; all of those good healthy lifestyles are going to help boost the immune system,” LaMartina said. “It kind of works together with good hygiene, really; it’s all one big package.”
Contact David Hurtado, staff reporter, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.