A dental dam is thin piece of latex that can be placed over the mouth to prevent the spread of sexualy transmitted infections (STIs) during oral sex. Dentists have been using rubber dams for decades to isolate a tooth from other teeth and different parts of the mouth during restorative procedures. They can be purchased in some stores or you can make your own using aconddom or a latex glove. They are called "dental" dams because they were originally intended as a protective measure for dentists working on a patient's teeth.
How they work
Dental dams can be used by men or women to prevent STIs while "rimming", which is oral sex performed on a partners' anus. The dental dam can also be placed over a woman's vulva before her partner performs oral sex on her, and acts as a barrier between her partner's mouth and her genitals. This helps to prevent sexually transmitted infections from spreading. Performing oral sex on a woman carries lower STI risks than vaginal sex, anal sex or performing oral sex on a man, but there are still risks of transmitting several STIs. Rimming, by contrast, is much more dangerous, as it carries STI risks (including a risk of Hepatitis A), and can cause several other illnesses because of bacteria or parasite infections.
Remember, sexually transmitted infections can be passed from mouth-to-penis and penis-to-mouth too, so men should wear condoms during oral sex for protection.
Where can I get Dental Dams?
Since dental dams are still a relatively new safer-sex method, they are not yet widely available. You can look for dental dams at your local drugstore, pharmacy or sexual health clinic, or order them online. Some specialty sex shops may also carry them. Just like condoms, dental dams come in a wide range of flavours and colours, so do some experimenting to find one to your taste. They generally cost around $3.00. If you can't find them in stores, don't worry about it. They are incredibly easy to make, and the homemade versions work just as well as the real ones!
How do I make a dental dam? Making a dental dam is super easy! All you need is a pair of scissors, a male condom and about 30 seconds. Here is how you do it:
Remove the condom from its package and unroll it.
Use scissors to cut off the tip and the base of the condom and cut down the length of the condom.
Unroll the condom into a rectangular sheet to form an effective dental dam.
A few tips on dental dams
Use unlubricated condoms that haven't been treated with spermicide which tastes bad.
Try condoms of different colours and flavours.
Put a few drops of water-based (latex-friendly) lubricant between the dam and your vagina/anus. It will make it more sensitive and it will help to hold it in place better.
Never reuse a dental dam or flip it over and use the other side. Once you're done with it, throw it away -not down the toilet.
Use your hands to hold the dam in place, or ask your partner to. Using a dental dam won't br convenient if it won't hold still.
A latex barrier is best, but you can reduce your risk even by using a piece of Saran Wrap as a barrier.
Teen oral sex survey
Survey results of 11,000 Canadian Students.
Percentage of students who have had oral sex at least once:
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