As we grow, the culture and precedent dictate that personal hygiene should be prioritized above all else. It's actually one of the things that kids learn in their early years. Remember how angry your mother would get whenever she caught you rolling around in the dirt, or pushing filthy tyres around?

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Brushing your teeth, washing your hair and body are some of the basic things that are taught to kids every single day, so that they may grow to embrace them as part of their routine. However, there's a huge difference between just doing these things and doing them right!

Here is a list of some of these basic hygiene routines that you may be doing wrong:

1. Covering your mouth with your hand while coughing or sneezing

This always seems to be the most obvious reaction that accompanies a cough or a sneeze. We do this so as to avoid appearing rude or as a sign of minding the people around you so as to prevent them from contacting the bacteria. However, this is definitely a health hazard to us, since the bacteria gets transferred to our hands and faces. The eye is a very sensitive organ, so it may suffer inflammations and rashes. It's advisable to use a handkerchief.

2. Picking your nose

At one point or another everyone has actually done this despite it's unattractive and very unhygienic outlook. This habit is not only bad manners but could also be bad for your health too! Your fingers might transfer harmful germs into your nose which could cause some major complication if they were to spread to your sinuses.

3. Using too much toothpaste

We all want to have fresh breath and a confident smile. These facts might make lots of people want to use loads of toothpaste so as to fasten this happy ever after. However, too much toothpaste makes the brush bristles to glide over the teeth instead of cleaning them. Just enough is okay.

4. Clipping your fingernails

Lots of ladies prefer having their fingernails done by a professional since it's quick, safe and seems to work every time. However, for the majority of guys the nail cutter would suffice as a convenient substitute. You would be surprised to know that clipping your nails is actually bad for your nails since it deforms the shape of your nails which will cause them to break. It's advisable to use a nail file instead of clippers.

5. Lining your lower lashes on the inside

Ladies would probably never imagine a scenario where they get to finish their make up routine without using an eye pencil or an eyeliner. Though they tend to make your eyes look big and beautiful they may also cause them lots of trouble. This pencil tips cover bacteria which may find its way into your eye. It's advisable to use eyeshadow and make sure to apply it a little bit away from the eye.

6. Using too much hair balm

The use of hair balm is something that nearly everyone has tried at one point in their lifetime. However, if the hair balm gets on the scalp, the pores tend to get clogged which may lead to even more greasiness and poor hair growth. It's advisable to use only a little amount at any given time.

7. Washing with shower gel every day

These products make us smell nice and appealing and might even help with attaining a perfect skin. However, this might come as a rude shock that their daily use might be detrimental to our skin. Our skin is inhabited by beneficial bacteria that inhibit it from drying up and protects it from infections. Daily use of these products might destroy this barrier making it more susceptible to infections.