Sexual Hygiene for Seniors – Getting Clean before Getting Dirty

Nothing kills a sexual encounter faster than poor hygiene! No one enjoys kissing someone with bad breath or going down on someone with a strong body odor.

Fortunately, there are some easy, basic hygiene actions that we can take that will reduce the chance of smelling bad. This article will describe some of these.

1. The Basic Rule: Bathe Before Sex

We need to be clean and fresh before being sexual. Occasionally we’re not aware that we have BO.

As we age, our sense of smell can diminish. We can’t necessarily depend on the “smell test” to know whether we need to bathe. We need to bathe “whether we need it or not.”

We need to bathe regularly to ensure we’re clean and fresh for our partners. Use a gentle soap or body wash with a pleasant, not-to-strong fragrance. Focus on cleaning your genital and anal areas. After bathing, you might want to apply some moisturizing lotion to prevent dryness.

2. Hair Care & Removal

It’s always nice to have freshly washed hair, but that’s not always necessary. Look in a mirror and decide whether your hair needs to be washed or not.

Many people, both men and women, closely trim or shave the hair around their genitals. Some think going bare looks sexier. Some women feel they experience more sexual sensitivity when their vulva is completely bare. They can feel every touch and breath on their exposed skin. No hair down there also makes access easier and encourages oral sex.

Many women have a regular practice of shaving all the hair from their vulva when they bathe and doing a touch-up before a planned sexual encounter. You can use a standard safety razor, or a cordless, rechargeable, electric razor. My wife recommends the Philips SatinShave Advanced Women’s Electric Shaver.

Some women and men have found laser hair removal to be an affordable and fairly permanent way to eliminate unwanted hair. My wife was very interested in this option but learned in consultations that her blond hair did not make her a good candidate for this method. Dark hair has the best results.

She also looked into electrolysis hair removal, but it was expensive and didn’t produce good or long-lasting results for her. Your experience may be different.

3. Ensure Fresh Breath

There are several actions you can take before you have sex to help ensure you don’t have bad breath:

• Be careful what you eat. It’s probably not a good idea to eat garlic, strong cheese, or onions in the hours before a sexual connection.
• Brush your teeth. Regular brushing in the morning and evening ought to be something you do every day. We like the Philips Sonicare 4100 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush. It’s a good idea to brush your teeth anytime it’s likely you’ll be kissing someone soon.
• Eat a breath mint. As extra insurance, eat a breath mint or use mouthwash before you get together.
  

If you have unusual or persistent bad breath, seek medical help. Your dentist or medical doctor may be able to diagnose a problem and provide a solution.

4. Use Deodorant

Even if you bathe regularly, you need to use a deodorant. You will find that some are more effective for you than others are.

Deodorants that include aluminum as an ingredient can often cause an uncomfortable rash. In that case, you might want to explore some natural alternatives. For me, Dr. Teal’s Aluminum Free Deodorant with Eucalyptus works well. My wife prefers Secret Aluminum Free Deodorant in Cotton.

Try several brands to find out which is most effective for you. Be aware, that most natural alternatives are not antiperspirants. You will likely need to bathe more frequently when sweating.

5. Don’t Use Too Much Cologne or Perfume

Many people are very sensitive and even allergic to strong perfumes or colognes. It makes me feel overwhelmed and almost light-headed to be around a lady who wears a lot of strong perfume.

I’d suggest that if you wear perfume or cologne, use only a tiny amount on your pressure points, so there’s just a subtle odor. Natural oils tend to be tolerated better than artificial perfumes and colognes.

6. Clean Up Afterwards

In advance of sex, put out some hand towels, so they can be easily used. Or, you may want to use a warm washcloth to clean your genitals or take a shower or bath to clean up afterward.

It’s important to clean any sex toys you used with soap and water. Bacteria can grow on them, and can then be transferred to you or your partner the next time you play with them.

As a gift for subscribing to our free newsletter, I’d like to give you access to our new guide, “7-Step Checklist for Great Senior Sex.”

I’ll send you the latest blog article each week so you don’t miss out and don’t have to remember to go to the website every Sunday. You’ll receive a down-to-earth article that I have written, designed to help you have an active, enjoyable sex life. When you subscribe, you will also have an opportunity to tell me what you struggle with in senior sexuality, and I will write to address your issue.