Worried About Germs...

[Annie8515]

I wore my mouth guard retainer about six months ago when I came down with a sinus infection. I haven't worn it since because I've been worried about the germs. Like if they were still on the guard and if id reinfect myself. Last week I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and even let it sit in the retainer case overnight with disinfecting soap and then again rinsed it with alcohol. I put it in my mouth to get used to wearing it again and all I can think about it what if I just activated the germs again and I'm starting to get sick. I'm also just getting over a cold. I was sick all last week and everything is still draining. I definitely killed all the germs right? Like this feeling is all in my head? My best friend is coming to visit me tomorrow and I'm so worried I'm coming back down with something. Help

[Paxiled]

Maybe a little truth about germs will help.  They're always there -- the notion you can kill all the germs goes back to Pasteur, who pasteurization is named after and is credited with what's called the Germ theory of disease, which is that germs cause disease and medicine should be focused on killing germs.  Before he died, however, and you won't find this many places, he changed his mind, concluding rightly that we'll never be able to kill all the "germs" nor would we want to, and that the issue is the strength of the immune system and its ability to fight off toxic stuff.  So if you keep your immune system strong and only worry about the really egregiously dangerous germs, you'll not only be as healthy as you can be but you won't have to worry about things you really don't have that much control over.  Also keep in mind that the substances used in medicine to kill germs are as toxic or more so as the germs you're killing, so while sometimes you have to do it, sinus infections are one of those areas where antibiotics are now discouraged except in the worst cases because they tend to go away on their own.  Too many antibiotics has its own problems.  Now, I realize your anxiety isn't really rational, all of us anxiety sufferers are worrying over something or other when we'd be much happier and just as safe not doing so, but at least I hope I've eased your concern over how this really works.