INDUSTRY INSIGHT
The Kiss of Health
Sponsored Content
It’s Just a Kiss,
Until…
M
any people love giving and receiving a kiss. Kissing shows
affection and acceptance, and sends other positive messages.
But are there dangers associated with a kiss, including to
your dental health?
Think about this—With just a simple kiss, you could potentially be
sharing 500 or more viruses and germs. In fact, not knowing who you are
kissing could be as dangerous to your health as having multiple sexual
partners. Before you pucker up again, Drs. Feduska and Kokai of My Best
Smile Dental dish on the most common diseases and viruses that you
could be transmitting or receiving.
Here’s the “rogues gallery” of potential illnesses:
Upper respiratory tract infections – Like colds, they can easily spread
through kissing. If you feel a cold or flu coming on, keep your lips to
yourself! Many different viruses are responsible for causing the common
cold, which is likely spread by direct contact with the virus. You can catch
a cold from airborne droplets, or from direct contact with fluids from the
infected person’s mouth, nose and throat.
Cold sores – Caused by the herpes virus (family of diseases that also
causes Epstein-Barr, chickenpox, or herpes simplex), cold sores appear
as tiny, clear, fluid-filled blisters that form around the mouth and lips.
They’re highly contagious, especially while the sores are open, but also
in the healing stages. Rule of thumb: if a person has any visible sores near
his or her lips, step away from any pucker!
Mononucleosis (also known as glandular fever) – You’ve probably
heard it called the “kissing disease,” and with good reason! It is easily
transmitted to others through kissing, as well as sharing food, a cup,
or even a straw. College students, beware! You’re more prone to mono
because of lowered immunity.
Hepatitis B – This may even be shared via kissing. It’s quite rare, but is
transferable through saliva.
Tooth decay – Bet you didn’t know that the bacteria causing tooth
decay are not found in the mouths of babies at birth. A baby’s mouth
must be colonized with infected saliva, which can be passed by a wellintentioned kiss on the lips.
The upside of kissing:
There is also good health news on kissing! During the act of kissing
the salivary glands get stimulated, increasing saliva into the mouth to
naturally guard our teeth. Although saliva is mostly water, it also contains
digestive enzymes that attack and destroy viruses and germs.
Kissing transfers antibodies from one person to another. Because these
antibodies may be new to you, they’ll help strengthen your immune
system. If you know someone is ill, however, it’s wise to try to keep from
kissing him/her until the person is well.
Kissing also releases nature’s antidepressant, oxytocin. Kissing does
not just increase the production of feel-good chemicals in our bodies, it
also lowers our cortisol and cholesterol levels, too.
Make sure your kiss is just a kiss
Here’s the bottom line: Know the people you’re kissing and you can
help keep them and yourself healthier. So be smart about who you kiss,
and enjoy yourself!
My Best Smile Dental serves patients of all ages, providing not
only general dental services, but also orthodontics and sedation
dentistry. For more information visit www.MyBestSmile.com or call
724.779.7645 for a complimentary consultation.
16 724.942.0940 to advertise | Mars Area
This Industry Insight was written by Dr. John Kokai of My Best
Smile Dental.
Linda Feduska-Kokai, DDS, FAGD, and John Kokai, DDS, MAGD,
are owners of My Best Smile Dental, located on Myoma Road
in Mars.
Dr. Linda Feduska is a graduate of Temple University and has
been in practice for 32 years. She is a Fellow of the Academy
of General Dentistry and is currently serving as Membership
Development Chair for the Pennsylvania Academy of General
Dentistry. Dr. John Kokai is a graduate of West Virginia University
and has 32 years of experience. He is a Master of the Academy
of General Dentistry and currently serves as a Trustee for the
Academy of General Dentistry. Both Drs. Feduska and Kokai
have served numerous community volunteer efforts.