Should You Brush After Kissing? Here's What Science (and Common Sense) Say

The Big Question: Is Brushing After Kissing Necessary?

So, you've just had a passionate kiss—or maybe just a quick peck—and now you're wondering: should you run for your toothbrush?

Well... yes and no. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer here. While kissing does exchange bacteria (up to 80 million per kiss, according to some studies—yeah, gross and kinda cool at the same time), that doesn't automatically mean it's time to scrub your pearly whites.

Let’s break it down.

What Actually Happens When You Kiss?

Bacteria Exchange: Yep, It’s Real

During a kiss, especially a deep one, you're sharing a lot more than just affection. Saliva is a transport system for bacteria, both good and bad. Some of these bacteria can be linked to cavities, gum disease, or even illnesses like mono and colds.

But—here’s the kicker—your mouth is already full of bacteria anyway. Like, hundreds of species. So a kiss doesn’t necessarily introduce a massive threat unless one of you has poor oral hygiene.

Saliva Helps... Weirdly

Surprisingly, saliva itself plays a protective role. It helps neutralize acids, wash away food particles, and fight some bad bacteria. So in a weird twist, kissing might even help stimulate saliva production which helps clean your mouth.

But yeah, that depends a lot on your partner’s oral health too. (If they’ve just had garlic fries... maybe don’t rely on their saliva as a cleansing agent.)

Pros and Cons of Brushing After Kissing

The Upside of Brushing

• If your partner is sick (or you are), brushing can help reduce bacterial load and possibly lower your risk of catching something.

• If you’re prone to cavities or gum disease, keeping your mouth extra clean could help.

• Fresh breath bonus—not bad if you plan on kissing again, right?

The Downside of Brushing Right Away

Here’s something people often forget: brushing too soon after food or acidic exposure (like wine, citrus, or even certain lip balms) can actually damage your enamel. If your kissing session followed a romantic dinner or drinks, brushing immediately could do more harm than good.

Also, brushing obsessively after every kiss? Honestly, that's just not sustainable (or romantic).

Better Alternatives? Maybe.

Rinsing Is a Solid Middle Ground

If you’re worried but don’t want to brush every single time, rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash can help. It reduces bacteria, freshens breath, and doesn't mess with your enamel.

You could even chew sugar-free gum with xylitol. It stimulates saliva and can actually prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth.

Timing Matters Too

If you're set on brushing, just wait 30 minutes after kissing—especially if food or drink was involved. That gives your enamel time to recover from any acid exposure.

Wait... Is Kissing Actually Bad for Teeth?

This is where it gets a bit twisty. Kissing isn’t inherently bad for dental health—in fact, it might even help by promoting saliva. But if either partner has untreated cavities, gum issues, or infections, there’s definitely a risk of transmitting those.

Oh, and let’s not forget cold sores. If you or your partner has one (even if it's healing), you should absolutely avoid kissing. That virus sticks around for life once transmitted.

Final Thoughts (Sorta Changed My Mind)

At first, I was like, “Meh, no need to brush after kissing.” But the more you think about the bacteria factor—especially if your immune system's a bit weak—it starts to make sense sometimes. Not always. Just in certain situations.

But brushing every single time? Nah, overkill. Unless your partner just ate raw onions or has strep throat.

So what should you do?

• Keep your mouth clean—floss, brush, rinse, all that jazz.

• If you're concerned, rinse or chew some gum post-kiss.

• And maybe—just maybe—give your partner a gentle nudge to up their brushing game too.

Because kissing is awesome. But good hygiene? Even sexier.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.