Toenails and feet. Cut your nails straight across to
prevent ingrown toenails. If corns or other foot ailments
develop, have them treated at once.
Fingernails. Keep fingernails trimmed and clean.
Hair. Keep your hair neatly trimmed and wash it
often.
Bunk linen. Change it at least weekly.
Exercise and sleep. Daily exercise improves
bodily functions, increasing muscle tone and physical
endurance. Even aboard small ships, it’s possible to
exercise in some manner. Get as much sleep as watch
and work conditions permit.
Diet. Navy food is good and wholesome. It provides
a well-balanced diet. Don’t be a finicky eater, even
though you don’t like some foods. Learn to eat a variety
of foods; try to avoid putting more on your tray than you
care to eat.
ORAL HYGIENE
Many dental disorders begin with the buildup of
bacterial plaque that remains undisturbed around the
teeth. The purpose of personal oral hygiene is to remove
this plaque buildup. Plaque can be removed by proper
tooth brushing and flossing techniques.
There are three common dental conditions that are
caused by poor dental hygiene:
1. Tooth decay
2. Reddening of the gums
3. Gum and bone disease
Any of these can cause the loss of a tooth; but with
proper oral hygiene, these conditions can be controlled
or prevented.
Tooth decay can be reduced by cutting down on
sweets and by brushing properly. For most people,
cavities and gum and bone disease occur primarily
between the teeth. No toothbrush can effectively
cleanse these areas or the areas behind the last tooth in
each arch. You must use dental floss to clean such
hard-to-reach areas. You should floss at least once a day,
either just before or just after brushing. Unwaxed dental
floss should be used in most cases.
Dental cleansing devices, oral irrigators, and
commercial mouthwashes are aids to oral hygiene.
They may be used in addition to—but not in place
of—tooth brushing and flossing. If these devices are
electrically powered, they must be safety checked by
electrical safety personnel before use.
NOTE
Oral irrigation may be harmful for individuals
with cardiovascular problems.
In addition to all of these procedures, you should
also have a dental checkup every 6 months or at least
once a year. Your dental technician or dentist can show
you the proper way to brush and floss your teeth.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are illness
caused by organisms that are transmitted through sexual
intercourse or by forms of other intimate body contact
with an infected person. The disease germs that cause
syphilis and gonorrhea are very fragile and can live for
only short periods of time outside the body. Venereal
disease is not spread from inanimate objects such as
toilet seats, drinking glasses, bed linens, or clothes.
Syphilis and gonorrhea are the two most common
sexually transmitted diseases in the United States.
Syphilis has had the worst reputation, but it is gonorrhea
that is out of control.
Syphilis
Syphilis can attack any tissue or organ of the body
and is especially damaging to the brain, spinal cord,
blood vessels, and heart.
A painless sore, called a chancre, is the first sign of
syphilis. The sore usually appears on or around the sex
organs about 9 to 90 days after contact with an infected
person. The chancre will heal within a few weeks, even
without treatment.
Other signs of syphilis that may develop either
before or after the chancre goes away are a rash that may
cover any part of the body; white, glistening spots in the
mouth; and fever, sore throat, and headaches. The rash
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