Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my little elves, for a tale of cleanliness and health, as we delve into the curious case of handwashing and toothbrushing among the young folks from a land far, far away—South Korea. From the frosty years of 2008 to the twinkling end of 2022, a grand survey called the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) kept a watchful eye on 963,644 sprightly adolescents, checking whether they were naughty or nice with their hygiene habits.

Now, as we all know, Santa keeps his hands clean to prevent the spread of germs, especially before munching on those delicious cookies you leave by the fireplace. And it seems that when the COVID-19 pandemic came to town, the youngsters took a page out of Santa’s book. There was a whopping 73.3% leap in handwashing when the pandemic began, faster than Rudolph on a foggy Christmas Eve! But, alas, as time went by, this good habit started to slide down the chimney, with a steady decrease thereafter.

On the other hand, the story of toothbrushing is a bit less merry. No immediate jump in brushing was seen when the pandemic hit—perhaps the tooth fairy was on vacation. And, oh dear, there was a noticeable dip in this habit during the pandemic. It seems that while the youngsters were keen on keeping their hands clean, their pearly whites didn’t receive the same jolly attention.

The survey also peeked into who was more likely to skip on scrubbing and brushing. Older kids, girls, non-smokers, those who sipped on a bit of eggnog (alcohol), lived in humbler abodes, or didn’t do as well in school were more likely to be on the ‘naughty’ list when it came to hand hygiene during the pandemic.

So, what’s the moral of this festive story? It’s that even after the pandemic’s sleigh has passed, it’s important for the health coaches of the land—teachers, public health advisers, and perhaps even Santa himself—to keep reminding these young ones about the magic of good hygiene. After all, a clean hand and a sparkling smile are gifts that keep on giving, all year round! 🎅🧼🎄