Kisses and mouth diseases

How are oral diseases transmitted? Some bacteria and organisms detonate these conditions, but there are others such as HIV that is not transmitted through daily contact or saliva, and therefore it is impossible to contract it by sharing kisses, cups, glasses, forks, a sandwich or a fruit .

For example, in an investigation that included 79 men with AIDS, only the virus was found in a man's saliva. This man had oral thrush, and other injuries to the mouth and throat. Even so, the concentration of virus in his saliva was 10 thousand times lower than in his blood.

To this research is added the evidence of other people who have had contact of saliva with HIV positive people, either by a kiss, by sharing food and in many other ways, in which, no presence of the virus has been found.

Recent findings suggest that saliva may contain an enzyme that kills HIV. The truth is that there are many factors that make the mouth a very unhealthy site for HIV, such as acids, enzymes, air and dilution of the virus in saliva.

 

Kisses and mouth diseases


"The kiss is part of the cleaning process", that is, "the saliva washes the mouth and helps to eliminate particles that accumulate from the cavity".

Kisses offer many health benefits, but they can also transmit a small number of bacteria that cause diseases and viruses like the following:

 

  1. Infections of the upper respiratory tract , also known as cold. It is believed that it is spread by direct contact with the virus. You can even get the flu by having contact with drops or secretions (fluids and mucous membranes) of an infected person.
  2. Glandular fever Also known as the kissing disease. It is the common term for a viral infection called infectious mononucleosis, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The virus is transmitted by saliva and infection occurs through contact.
  3. Herpes infection. It is transmitted by having direct contact with the virus during kissing. Herpes is easier to spread to others when blisters form. Chickenpox is easily transmitted from person to person by direct contact, saliva droplets or airborne transmission.
  4. Hepatitis B . Kissing can also transmit the Hepatitis B virus; however, blood has higher levels of this virus than saliva. Infection is recorded when infected blood and saliva come into direct contact with another person's fluids. A person is more likely to be infected when kissing, if they have open wounds in or around the mouth.
  5. Warts This type of oral disease can be spread through kissing, especially if there are areas of recent trauma.

 

Bacteria in the mouth!


The diseases caused by bacteria and that can be transmitted by a kiss are:

  1. Meningococcal disease It is life-threatening, including meningitis, inflammation of the membranes (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord, and septicemia. They can spread through direct contact or through droplets. Studies show that only deep kissing could be a risk factor.
  2. Dental caries. The bacteria that cause tooth decay are not found in the mouths of newborns. This must be colonized with infected saliva, which can be transmitted by a kiss on the lips.

Keep in mind that periodontal disease can be transmitted through saliva. Therefore, the American Academy of Periodontology recommends that if a member of the family has such a disease, all family members should be examined.

Do not let these potential dangers keep you from kissing. Just make sure you have good oral hygiene.