Does Kissing Affect Your Oral Health?

A kiss is the touch or pressing of one’s lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, sexual activity, sexual arousal, affection, respect, greeting, friendship, peace and good luck, among many others. In some situations a kiss is a ritual, formal or symbolic gesture indicating devotion, respect, or sacrament. But the question is: Does kissing affect your oral health?                                 does kissing affect your oral health

The answer is YES!

Kissing, just like almost anything, has its benefits and disadvantages for your mouth. Let us cover the positive first. Kissing is actually good for your teeth. It increases saliva production, and saliva helps remove food particles and cavity-causing bacteria, so it protects teeth from dental decay and neutralizes acids.

Now the downside… One kiss can share more than 500 different types of disease-causing bacteria and viruses.  It can give you a cold, the flu, mononucleosis or a nasty batch of cold sores, gum disease and cavities.

Cavities???  Yes, you’ve heard it right. Though kissing will prevent you from having cavities, it can also transfer the bacteria that causes tooth decay into your mouth.

I’m not telling you to avoid kissing, just be careful before having that one sweet smooch. Avoid kissing sick people and visit your dentist regularly.