The Health Risks of Kissing

Sweet Tooth

Health officials say kissing can also spread bacteria that can cause tooth decay, especially in children. You may be blaming cavities on a child’s sweet tooth, but according to research by the University of California San Francisco, mothers can pass cavity-causing bacteria to their children through kissing, especially if the mother has not seen a dentist in several years. The bacterium is called Streptococcus mutans. It starts to colonize in the baby’s mouth and can cause severe tooth decay.

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Review Date: 
January 30, 2015

Last Updated:
January 30, 2015