How Clean is TOO Clean?

Hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, anti-bacterial toys…We live in an age of extreme cleanliness. It’s somewhat understandable, especially given the current pandemic and all, but there’s also something to be said for exposing our kids to everyday, non-threatening germs. In fact, some germs are actually good for us, and by over-sanitizing every surface and stopping kids from rolling around in good clean dirt, we run the risk of setting them up for health issues later in life.

There has been a lot of controversy about a theory known as the “Hygiene Hypothesis”. The research is ongoing, but the theory posits that exposure to a wider range of germs and bacteria in early life helps build a stronger immune system, which ultimately leads to lower instances of autoimmune diseases, asthma, and allergies.

So should we be continuing our hyper sanitary vigilance or is it time to start reintroducing everyday germs back into our children’s lives? In other words, how clean is too clean? I reached out to Dr. Joy Oreto, a pediatrician at Oasis International Hospital to get a little clarity.

The first thing the good doctor told me was there are three kinds of immunity: Innate immunity is the stuff you are born with like your skin, gastric system, and even your tears and mucus (gross I know, but your boogers serve a purpose!). Meanwhile, passive immunity is the antibodies we don’t produce ourselves. Infants get these from their mother’s milk and adults get them in the form of vaccines. Then there is adaptive immunity which is the focus of the Hygiene Hypothesis. In laymen’s terms, when you are exposed to different viruses and bacteria your body produces antibodies to fight them. Then, the next time your body is exposed, those antibodies can react faster and kill the intruding strain before it makes you sick again. Theoretically, that means exposing kids to milder viruses in places like playgrounds and playgroups before sending them to school could be beneficial in the long run.

For what it’s worth, short of sealing them in a hermetically sealed bubble, it’s basically impossible to keep children away from all germs. As such, Oreto pointed out that “Our environment has millions of microorganisms. Even if we disinfect our homes, we are unable to remove all of them,” adding, “Most of the microorganisms in our environment are usually harmless.” At the same time, some bacteria are helpful and exposure could be beneficial. “There are good and bad bacteria,” says Oreto. “The good bacteria are often seen in our gut. When we have good bacteria living in our body, it would promote good health.”

Plenty of famous mommy bloggers and a lot of local parents endorse the hygiene theory (even if they don’t know that’s what it’s called). A mom friend of mine recently tried to stop a child from putting a rock in his mouth at the park, only to have the child’s parent tell her it was okay, and that it was good for him. What’s more, I used to know a mom who would drive her kids to a field full of ragweed and wildflowers outside the city because she believed the exposure would help stop them from developing allergies. That’s a little extreme for my tastes but I do see the logic in a less aggressive form of allergen exposure. Oreto stressed that this is a controversial theory but when pressed about whether casual exposure could help prevent allergies and autoimmune issues she explains, “In my own opinion, kids who have a mild reaction to a certain allergen, if they are repeatedly exposed, will eventually be desensitized. Our body will already recognize the allergen and will no longer react to that particular substance. Just like when we develop a certain disease, like chickenpox, our body will develop antibodies that would prevent us from having another bout of that illness.” Please note she does stress mild reactions. In other words, if your child needs an EpiPen for a peanut allergy then exposure therapy is probably not your best option.

Nevertheless, Oreto does promote moderation, saying “A sterile environment is different from a clean environment. At home, toys and kids’ play areas…Frequent sanitation of our home with the use of bleach is unnecessary.”

She also underscores the importance of regular hand washing, calling it “the single most important practice in preventing the spread of infection.” But even with that, it’s possible to go overboard. According to researchers at UC Davis, overuse of hand sanitizer or harsh soaps could damage the skin, thus exposing the body to even more bacteria.

So, what is the barometer? How often should we expect a child to be sick in the first few years? Oreto says it’s nothing to be worried about if your child is ill six or seven times a year, it’s just their body reacting to a new strain of the disease and developing the antibodies to fight it off.

Bottom line, clean is good but it can go too far. So, teach them to wash their hands with soap and warm water after the bathroom but let them know it’s okay to be a little messy in art class. Let them play in the sandbox but don’t let them eat the cat poop. Basically, take a page from your parents’ book and make the kids go play outside!