What are the effects of kissing on oral health in dentistry?

Kissing and Oral Health: Fun Facts from Dentistry

Bacterial Exchange During Kissing

A single 10-second intimate kiss transfers approximately 80 million bacteria between partners. 1

• Intimate kissing leads to substantial microbial exchange, with probiotic marker bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) detected in most kiss receivers after controlled experiments 1
• Couples who kiss frequently share more similar salivary microbiota compared to unrelated individuals, with the strongest similarity observed on the tongue surface 1
• The shared oral microbiota between partners requires frequent and recent bacterial exchange, being most pronounced in couples with high intimate kiss frequencies 1
• However, many transferred bacteria are only transiently present, while others successfully colonize the tongue surface for long-term establishment 1

HPV Transmission Through Kissing

Open-mouth kissing is considered a possible mode of transmission for oral HPV infection, though the exact risk remains uncharacterized. 2

• Oral HPV infection shows a 7% point prevalence in the general population, with most infections cleared by the immune system within 9-12 months 2
• The transmission of oral HPV is highly correlated with sexual activity, including increasing number of oral sexual partners and possibly open-mouth kissing 2
• Oral HPV infection demonstrates a bimodal age distribution, with the largest peak occurring between ages 55-64 years and a smaller peak between ages 30-34 years 2
• Partners of patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer have an oral oncogenic HPV infection rate of only 1.2%, similar to the general population rate of 1.3% 2

Impact on Quality of Life

Dental prosthesis stability significantly affects comfort during intimate activities, with implant-supported overdentures providing superior outcomes compared to conventional dentures. 3

• Patients with mandibular implant-supported overdentures report significantly less prosthesis looseness when kissing compared to those with conventional complete dentures (p<0.0001) 3
• Implant overdenture recipients feel less uneasy when kissing and during sexual activity than conventional denture wearers 3
• Edentulism has a documented negative impact on social and sexual life, affecting willingness to engage in intimate activities 3

The "Kissing Molars" Phenomenon

"Kissing molars" refers to a rare dental anomaly where impacted permanent molars have contacting occlusal surfaces, occurring in approximately 0.1% of patients undergoing third molar surgery. 4

• This condition most commonly involves the second and third lower molars (Class II), accounting for 67% of cases 4
• Kissing molars can lead to serious complications including dentigerous cyst formation (33% of cases) and granulomatous changes of the adjacent dental follicle 4
• Early surgical removal is essential, though mild lower lip paresthesia may occur post-operatively in approximately 33% of cases, typically resolving within 3-6 months 4, 5

Infection Control Considerations

Dental healthcare workers must maintain strict hand hygiene protocols before and after patient contact to prevent transmission of oral microorganisms. 2

• Hands should be washed with soap and water before glove placement and after glove removal, as gloves may become perforated during use and allow contamination 2
• Blood and saliva should be considered potentially infective, requiring appropriate barrier protection during dental procedures 2