Why Used Musical Instruments Could Be Hazardous to Your Child's Health

Buying used musical instruments could be harmful to the health of your child. Most parents are happy to foster a child's desire to play a musical instrument, and buying a used one is a smart way to save money. But if you do, clean it well before giving it to your child to play. Recent research shows that used musical instruments especially brass and woodwind ones are heavily contaminated with bacteria.

Used Woodwind and Brass Instruments Are a Source of Harmful Bacteria

According to a new study published in General Dentistry, used woodwind and brass musical instruments are a source of harmful bacteria, so it's important to clean an instrument well before letting a child make music with it. They tested the mouthpiece, the internal parts and the cases of 13 used musical instruments that had been played by kids in a high school band. Even though some of these instruments hadn't been used in a month, they were still able to isolate 442 bacteria, 58 molds and 19 yeasts from them.

The types of bacteria they isolated from these used musical instruments weren't "friendly" ones either. Many were capable of causing mouth infections and asthma - and of the type resistant to most antibiotics. Even more disturbingly, kids often exchange instruments to see what it's like to play a different one, which further increases the risk of infection and illness.

What Can Parents Do to Decrease the Risk of Infection From Used Musical Instruments?

If you buy a used instrument, take it apart, and do a thorough cleaning using a soft cloth and cleaning solution made for each instrument. To avoid infection, clean the inside of the instrument too. Disinfect the mouthpiece after each use.

Parents should be sure kids understand the importance of not sharing their instrument with another child and told not to play another child's instrument.

The Bottom Line?

If you buy a used musical instrument, disassemble it and clean each part thoroughly before playing it. Clean the mouthpiece after every use, and do a once-a-week thorough cleaning from the inside out. Most of all make sure your child doesn't share his or her instrument with other kids.

References:

Eurekalert.org. "Is Your Child's Hobby Making Him Sick?"