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CBT toys UK Everything You Need to Know About Using a Dental Dam
A dental dam can reduce the risk of spreading sexually transmitted infections during oral sex by covering the genital or anal area.
A dental dam is a thin, flexible piece of latex that protects against direct mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-anus contact during oral sex. This reduces your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) while still allowing for clitoral or anal stimulation.
They’re an
effective
form of protection, but odds are you’ve never even heard of them. Read on to find out what you’ve been missing.
Safe-sex measures typically focus on penetrative sex, which is why condoms are so readily available. But that’s not the only type of intercourse that spreads bacteria and infections.
It’s possible to get or transmit STIs through oral sex as well.
Types of infections include:
Barrier methods of protection, like a dental dam, can
should have been a given greatly reduce
your risk of sharing the fluids that carry these infections during oral sex.
If you’re curious about oral anal play but a bit squeamish, consider using a dental dam. This can help you avoid coming into contact with fecal matter, which can carry bacteria like E. coli and Shigella, or even intestinal parasites.
A dental dam can stop fluid exchanges, but it might not prevent you from sharing infections or conditions that are swapped through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
Dental dams don’t protect against:
One of the reasons dental dams may not be as well-known as condoms is because they’re not available in every pharmacy — or gas station, grocery store, doctors’ office, or even club bathroom.
In fact, you may have a difficult time finding dental dams at any store.
Start at an adult store, orlook to order them online. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. Some are even flavored. If you or a partner have a latex allergy, you can look for dental dams made from other materials, such as polyurethane.
A dental dam is more expensive than a condom; one dental dam is typically $1 to $2. Some family planning or sexual health clinics stock dental dams and offer them for free, so check there before placing an order.
If you aren’t interested in using a traditional dental dam, you may be interested in something more conventional: latex underwear. Although the first run of Lorals is primarily focused on comfort, the company wants their second collection to protect against STIs, too.
Dental dams are easy to use. Still, it’s important to go slow and apply the dam carefully to prevent any tears or holes.
Gently tear open the package. Pull the piece out of the protective envelope. Unfold it and place it over your or your partner’s vagina or anus. The rectangular or square piece of material should be big enough to cover the entire vaginal or anal area.
Don’t stretch the dam or press it tightly against the skin. Instead, let it naturally stick to the body via moisture or static.
Leave the dam in place until you’re finished, and then toss it in the garbage can. If it gets jumbled up during the act, toss it and get a new one.
No dental dam? No problem. You can make your own dam with things you might already have in the house.
A condom makes for a great dental dam. To DIY:
Don’t even have a spare condom? You can use plastic wrap in a pinch, but keep in mind it’s not at all intended for this purpose. In fact, there are no studies that prove it’s an effective barrier method. The thicker material may also reduce pleasure.
That said, it’s better than using nothing at all. To do this, simply tear a piece of plastic wrap that’s large enough to cover the vaginal or anal area. Follow the same how-to-use process as you would for a store-bought dam.
Absolutely not. Once used, you could expose yourself or your partner to an STI or another type of infection with an already-used dental dam.
STIs and other infections can be passed through oral sex.
Although you can use an outside condom to perform oral sex on a partner with a penis, they don’t offer protection during vaginal or anal oral play.
You can use an outside condom to create your own dental dam, though. If you aren’t into DIY, you canorder a box online.
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