Page 65 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

SWEAT AND SMELLS 63

Body odour
Sweat is odourless. It’s only when sweat Dealing with body odour
is broken down by the bacteria that live • Wash every day and as soon as possible
on skin and hair that odour is created. after exercising, focusing on the areas you
Everyone has body odour and learns sweat from the most, such as your armpits.
how to handle it. Daily washing • Use a deodorant or antiperspirant.
decreases the amount of bacteria on Deodorants are perfumed lotions that
the skin, and so reduces the likelihood disguise the smell of body odour.
of body odour. Anti-perspirants reduce the amount you
sweat by blocking the pores of the skin.
• Wear fresh clothing, including socks and
underwear, every day. Choose clothes made
▷ Finding a routine of breathable, natural fibres, such as cotton.
Showering regularly reduces the number
of odour-creating bacteria on the skin.

Bad breath Stinky feet
Bad breath (halitosis) has several causes, but one of the most The feet’s sweat glands are eccrine glands, which produce
common is food trapped between the teeth. Bacteria in the sweat that is less likely to be broken down by odour-creating
mouth attach to and break down these food remnants, bacteria. However, feet can still start to smell if the sweat is
releasing a smelly gas as they do so. Regular brushing and unable to evaporate from the skin – such as when they are
flossing helps to remove any trapped food, reducing the cooped up in socks and shoes for long periods. If shoes
chances of bad breath and tooth decay. become damp with sweat, it creates the perfect climate for
bacteria to breed and break down the sweat to produce a
smelly odour.

▷ Breathable shoes
Shoes need to dry out between
▷ Bacteria build-up wears to avoid bacteria build-up
Switching to a new from sweaty feet. A foot
toothbrush every deodorant can help reduce
three months and hide foul smells.
stops the build
up of bacteria.

Solving bad breath Coping with smelly feet

• Brush your teeth and gums for 2–3 minutes at least • Thoroughly wash and dry your feet every day.
twice a day. Clean your tongue regularly, too. Floss to • Wear fresh socks every day.
remove any food debris trapped between the teeth.
• Avoid wearing the same shoes two days
• Drink water with meals to wash out the mouth. running. If possible, alternate between pairs of
• Avoid smoking. This can make bad breath worse. shoes so that they have 24 hours to dry out.
• Pay regular visits to a dentist.

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