Masks are not Healthy (for children and other living things)

Masks are not Healthy . . . 

for children and other living things 

I agree with this article (below), which appeared in the Wall Street Journal (August 9, 2021).

I've actually been creating my own case against masks for children (not to mention vaccinated adults) which I'll copy after the article.

___________________

My Case Against Masks for Children

Reasons why kids (especially) and the rest of us
shouldn’t wear masks (regularly)

Oral Health (“Mask Mouth”)

Bad breath

Gum disease

Dehydrated (drink less)

Reference: "The Truth Behind Mask Mouth," by Jessica Fagan, RDH, BS, MA (Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, August 17, 2020).

Unsanitary Masks (especially at school)

No guarantee parents are obsessing over cleanliness

Teachers won’t be able to monitor this

Playground

Bathrooms

In class (taking on and off)

Where's the Data?

Remains Uncertain

Reference: "The Science of Masking Kids at School Remains Uncertain," by David Zweig (New York Magazine/Intelligencer)

Language Learning

We learn language by watching mouths shape the sounds

Masks muffle speech

Nonverbal communication deprivation

Small children especially need nonverbal cues

Reference: "Masking Emotions: Face Masks Impair How We Read Emotions" (Frontiers in Psychology May 25, 2021)  

Weakens immunity to normal pathogens

Children growing up masked may be less likely to develop strong immune systems if they’re not exposed to viruses/bacteria

Dirt is Good: Why Kids Need Exposure to Germs, by Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight 

Here's a link to an NPR interview with co-author Jack Gilbert.  

Emotional/Psychological

Emphasis on “safety” and hyper cleanliness creates children who are fearful, unwilling to take risks, less likely to touch and be touched.

School Supervision

Teachers should not be expected to have to monitor compliance

Noncompliance/resistance to masking may result in behavior problems, kids sent home, etc.

_______________

Agree?

Please feel free to send reasons, links, research studies.

There's more that could be added, particularly in the Emotional/Psychological section.

Disagree?

I'm interested in your reasons.