Essence of Care' was first introduced in 2001, designed to support and address the fundamentals of care which are still at the heart of its 12 benchmarks. Essence of Care 2010 is ideal for frontline staff in health and social care settings. For the purpose of these benchmarks personal hygiene care is defined as: The physical act of cleansing the body to ensure that the hair, nails, ears, eyes, nose and skin are maintained in an optimum condition. It also includes mouth hygiene which is the effective removal of plaque and debris to ensure the structures and tissues of the mouth are kept in healthy conditions. In addition, personal hygiene includes ensuring the appropriate length of nails and hair. This title must be read in conjunction with 'How to use Essence of Care 2010' (ISBN 9780113228720). It should also be noted that all of the benchmarks are interrelated.