Is Your Child's Hobby Making Him/Her Sick?
While research shows that playing a musical instrument can increase intelligence in children, playing a used instrument can bear a potential health risk.
According to a study published in the March/April 2011 issue of General Dentistry, certain types of instruments can increase the amount of bacteria your child is exposed to. Woodwind and brass instruments use reeds to create the sound so after a while these instruments can become contaminated with a variety of different bacteria and fungi.
The risk of exposure to the bacteria and fungi found in woodwind and brass instruments is especially high for used or borrowed instruments. Many children participate in a school's band program and subsequently use borrowed instruments with used reeds. If these instruments are not properly sanitized, the bacteria and fungi can thrive for weeks to even months after the last use.
The study tested 117 spots on 13 previously used instruments from a high school band, half of which were played in that last week and the other half of which had not been played in about a month. The instruments produced 442 different bacteria, many of which were strands of Staphylococcus (the bacteria that causes staph infections). Furthermore, 58 molds and 19 yeasts were found on the instruments.
For more information on this subject and tips for avoiding transmission of bacteria from instruments, follow the link below:
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
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