In fact, it might even be healthy. In “Babies Know: A Little Dirt is Good for You,” Jane E. Brody of The New York Times wrote about the “hygiene hypothesis.”

Basically, the theory suggests that we are too clean for our own good. Since we have a tendency to avoid dirt, which contains bacteria, viruses and worms, we are no longer able to fight off diseases and have become more prone to allergies, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

In her article, Brody quoted Mary Ruebush, a microbiology and immunology instructor and the author of “Why Dirt is Good: 5 Ways to Make Germs Your Friends."  Ruebush wrote: “What a child is doing when he puts things in his mouth is allowing his immune response to explore his environment. Not only does this allow for ‘practice’ of immune responses, which will be necessary for protection, but it also plays a critical role in teaching the immature immune response what is best ignored.”

The article also quotes two doctors, who noted that children who grow up on farms and are much less likely to develop allergies and autoimmune diseases. These doctors also suggested it’s good for kids to have pets so that they will be exposed to worms that can promote a healthy immune system.

What do you think of the “hygiene hypothesis’? How much dirt exposure is acceptable to you?

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