Can kissing on the mouth transmit disease?

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Not normally. But if the person’s immune defense is weakened, the body can catch some diseases. “The most common is candidiasis, the famous ‘thrush’. It is caused by a fungus and appears in the form of redness, burning and small wounds in the corner of the mouth”, says dentist Fernanda Franco, from Moinhos de Vento and Santa Casa hospitals in Porto Alegre (RS). More serious are infections caused by viruses from the herpes family.

“Oral herpes attacks the lips and the surrounding area. But wounds can also appear inside the mouth and on the gums”, says Fernanda. There’s more: the exchange of saliva can also generate infectious mononucleosis, which causes fever and pharyngitis and manifests itself in small spots on the roof of the mouth, gum infections and ulcers similar to canker sores. Although rare, even tuberculosis can be transmitted through saliva.

But no spawn: these problems are not frequent. If the person is healthy, the organism defends itself against hundreds of viruses, fungi, protozoa and bacteria, which lodge mainly between the gums and the teeth when we kiss someone. So, good oral hygiene is vital. It’s worth the basics: brush your teeth well and use dental floss – even to reduce the risk of you having tremendous breath and scaring away that super cat. Those who wear tongue or lip piercings should also beware. Kiss on the mouth only after healing and correct hygiene.

Taking due care, just leave for the hug. I mean, for the kiss.

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