Basic hygiene was one of the massive victories of public health. People give medicine all the credit, but most diseases and deaths have probably been prevented by really basic things like closed sewer systems/clean drinking water, washing your hands, etc. Needless to say, personal hygiene needs to be a priority.
You need to brush your teeth. This is a must do if you don’t want to get cavities or serious gum inflammation, never mind bad breath. Poor dental health has been linked to a host of other health problems, not to mention the fact that rotted teeth look super gross. Brush with water and baking soda if you really cannot stand using products, but really you have to remove the plaque from your teeth on a daily basis. Same goes with flossing.
Hand hygiene is critical. Very hot water will work for a rinse, but soap is more effective according to the CDC:
“Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone because the surfactants in soap lift soil and microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes germs”
http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.htmlAccept that hand hygiene is not just important for you, but for those around you. Suck it up and use some soap. If you are like me and have really sensitive skin, you do not need to use soap every single time you wash your hands but you need to use it before or after important activities (using the bathroom, before preparing food) or when you are ill.
Shampoo/body wash/deodorant are not must do things for health, but are nice-to-haves for most people.