How Kissing Can Cause Cavities

How Kissing Can Cause Cavities Travis Stork: And talk objectively about kissing and cavity. So, take a look at a kiss and you can see exactly what happens. When two people kiss, what’s happening? Well, believe it or not, there’s a little -- that’s bacteria. Actually, the bacteria that causes cavity is it’s transmissible in your saliva. As you can see there, that causes decay and because of that, we’ve got our good friend dentist, Doctor Bill Dorfman to help explain why kissing causes cavities? Bill Dorfman: Believe it or not, there have been recent studies published in the American Dental Association Journal that shows that bacteria can be transmitted from saliva, one person to another person. You say, well why is that bad? Well, bacterium is what causes tooth decay. There is a bacteria called strep mutans and that bacteria sits in your mouth, it eats carbohydrates and sugars and all that stuff. It accumulates on your teeth. When it’s sitting on your teeth, that bacteria produces a byproduct which is acid and when that acid is introduced on to the tooth, it actually eats into the tooth and causes cavities. So, does that mean you shouldn’t kiss somebody? Well, I would say kiss somebody with a really clean mouth. Maybe go to the dentist twice a year. If you’re not sure, bring her with you. You could have like dual side by side -- Jim Sears: You guys are ruining Valentines Day for everybody. Drew Ordon: I may be loosing it Bill but I could swear and show you that kissing is good for your teeth. Bill Dorfman: It is but make sure you’re kissing somebody that has a really clean mouth. Travis Stork: We’ve all kissed someone whose breath wasn’t so good. Lisa Masterson: No. I figured that out that’s why there’s all that dopamine around so that you’re all doped up. You don’t think about what’s going on while you’re kissing, right? Jim Sears: I can see in that animation with all those green things going on. Drew Ordon: What took you so long Travis? Travis Stork: Well Bill, thank you as always for your wonderful scientific explanation why we should all be concerned now about kissing. Bill Dorfman: Be careful who you kiss Travis.