Once your teens start getting into their tween and teen years, they’ll begin to start looking, acting, speaking, and smelling like completely different people. And while many of these changes will be great for them, some of them will be very hard for your teen to deal with on their own.

If you’ve noticed that your teen or tween has been having a hard time dealing with their new and changing body, it might be time for you to step in a lend them some advice. To help you know what to say in this potentially awkward situation, here are three tips for talking to your teen about personal hygiene. 

Have These Conversations In Private

While it might not seem like a big deal to you, talking about these kinds of topics can be embarrassing for your teen. And because many teens have very sensitive emotions that this time in their lives, it’s important that you broach this topic in the right way and at the right time.

According to Rosalind Wiseman, a contributor to the Huffington Post, you should never speak with your teen about their personal hygiene in front of their friends or in a public place. Additionally, you may want to keep these conversations as something that takes place just between you and your teen when everyone else in the house is gone or doing something else. By doing this, you’ll be able to reduce your teen’s embarrassment and make him or her feel comfortable enough to ask you any questions they might have. 

Help Out When It Comes To Shaving

Shaving is one part of teenage hygiene that your teen might be completely unfamiliar with. And because shaving can be dangerous if not done safely, it’s a good idea to help your teen out when it comes to learning how to shave.

To give you some guidance with this, the Cleveland Clinic advises that you talk with your teen about why it’s important and sanitary to shave, teach them the proper technique for how to save various areas of their bodies, and help them find the right razor and other shaving accessories for their needs. 

Set Personal Guidelines For Bathing

One of the most important things you should speak with your teen about when going over personal hygiene is how often he or she should be bathing.

According to Barbara Poncelet, a contributor to Very Well Family, different teens can and will have different guidelines for how often they need to bathe. If your teen plays sports or has oily skin or hair, bathing everyday should be required. But if your teen has dry or sensitive skin, bathing every other day or so should be sufficient. 

If you’ll soon be needing to talk with your teen about their personal hygiene, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just this.