Dental Dams

Dental dams can be a great way to decrease the risk of contracting a viral or bacterial infection from oral-vaginal or oral-anal sex. Dental dams are square pieces of latex used to prevent the transfer of bodily fluids during oral or anal sex by acting as a barrier (dental dams are not designed to prevent pregnancy, because oral sex does not lead to pregnancy). While the feeling of the latex is different from the feeling of the tongue, the sensation is not necessarily reduced. The use of flavored dental dams or flavored jells can also help make giving oral sex more pleasurable.

One might consider using dental dams anytime when engaging in cunnilingus (oral-vaginal sex) or analingus (oral-anal sex). However, for oral contact with a penis, it is safest to use a condom, to prevent barrier from falling off. Dental dams are especially important during oral-anal sex to prevent transmitting infections from around the anus, but they also help prevent the spread of many STIs like herpes, gonnorhea, genital warts and HIV, which are contracted through the exchange of bodily fluids and can infect the throat, cheeks, face or other body parts.

Dental dams come in a variety of flavors including lavender, wildberry, vanilla and strawberry They can also be created out of a condom. It may be necessary to rinse off the dental dam before use