Before you kiss your partner, check their dental record first. Maybe even get them checked for cavities.
A video went viral on TikTok recently where a dentist claimed that you could get cavities from kissing your partner. Dr. Tasneem Mahmood claims that cavities are contagious.
@tasneemmahmoodd & that’s on cavities being contagious 🦠
♬ presleywalker – PresleyWalker
Are Cavities Contagious?
It may seem odd to think that a hole in your tooth could be transferred to another person. But to the dentists, this is not odd or even new news.
According to Dr. John Featherstone, professor emeritus and former dean of the University of California, San Francisco’s School of Dentistry, experts have known about the transmissibility of tooth decay since at least the 1970s.
The presence of specific bacterial strains in our mouths has been related to decay, and these germs may be passed between people by saliva for example by kissing.
A dentist told the New York Times in 2011 about a woman in her 40s who had never had a cavity until she began seeing a man who hadn’t been to the dentist in 18 years. In his own studies, Featherstone, who has spent four decades studying dental decay treatment, has observed similar occurrences.
How To Prevent Cavities?
Cavities or tooth decay occur when carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are left on the teeth, such as bread, cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candies. Bacteria in the mouth break down these meals and convert them to acids. Plaque is formed when bacteria, acid, food waste, and saliva mix to adhere to the teeth. Plaque acids erode away at the enamel surface of the teeth, causing cavities.
According to the dentist, to avoid cavities, you must do the following:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day
- Clean between your teeth daily with dental floss
- Rinse daily with a fluoride-containing mouthwash
- Avoid foods such as candy, pretzels, and chips
- If sticky foods are eaten, brush your teeth soon afterward
- Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams
