What You’re Really Sharing This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is all about closeness: sharing dessert, leaning in for a kiss, and spending time with the people we love. But there’s something else being shared in those sweet moments that most of us never think about – plaque-forming bacteria.
Dentists have long known that dental disease is a bacterial infection and that mouth bacteria are easily transferred between people. Kissing, sharing food or drinks, and even talking closely all allow saliva droplets to move from one mouth to another. This means couples, families, caretakers, and close companions often share similar mouth bacteria over time.
It might sound unromantic at first, but here’s the surprising truth: this sharing is completely normal and can even be beneficial when your mouth is healthy.
Your Mouth – A Bustling Love Community
A healthy mouth is home to a diverse ecosystem of bacteria, hundreds of different strains working together like a well-coordinated team. The more diverse this community, the healthier your mouth tends to be. These bacteria communicate, cooperate, and help protect your teeth and gums from everyday stress like temperature changes, acids, and physical wear.
When Balance Tips the Wrong Way
Problems arise when that diversity disappears. An unhealthy mouth usually contains fewer types of bacteria, dominated by just a handful of harmful ones.
One of the most well-known troublemakers is Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria thrives in acidic environments and feeds on sugars and carbohydrates. It’s sticky by nature and can build up on teeth when conditions allow, contributing to enamel damage and cavities.
When these harmful bacteria become dominant, they can overpower the protective effects of healthy bacteria, making cavities and gum disease more likely.
Xylitol is a tool in supporting a healthy oral microbiome.
To measure your oral bacterial levels, you can use a simple at-home oral DNA saliva test. Dr. Ellie recommends the following company: Dentulu Salivary Testing. You can find the direct link to the test that Dr. Ellie recommends here: OralDNA Test
Sharing Builds Strength Over Time
Bacterial sharing begins early in life and continues throughout adulthood. Babies acquire mouth bacteria through close contact with caregivers, and this gradual exposure helps build a resilient oral ecosystem. As adults, we continue to exchange bacteria with partners, family members, and close contacts—including through kissing.
Under the right conditions, this shared exposure helps strengthen the mouth’s natural defenses rather than weaken them.
A Valentine’s Day Takeaway
This Valentine’s Day, don’t fear the kiss. When your mouth is healthy, sharing bacteria is simply part of human connection, and even part of maintaining balance. Taking care of your mouth isn’t just good for you; it’s a way to care for the people you love, too.
So remember: love is meant to be shared… and sometimes, so are the good bacteria.
*This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your physician or healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any Zellie's product.
