The reason daily brushing and flossing are so important for keeping harmful oral bacteria populations under control is that they reproduce very quickly. In a healthy, clean mouth, there might be anywhere from a thousand to a hundred thousand bacteria on each tooth surface, but that can quickly become as many as a hundred million to a billion bacteria per tooth without brushing or flossing.
Our Oral Bacteria
On average, an individual will have between 34 and 72 different types of oral bacteria. Once we get a strain of bacteria in our mouths, it probably isn’t going away. The trouble is that each person has different bacteria, so kissing or even sharing drinks with someone could introduce new strains.
Kids Don’t Have Adult Oral Bacteria Yet
This is more dangerous for children than adults. Young children don’t have as many types of oral bacteria as adults yet, and their immune systems aren’t used to dealing with them. Too many kisses from Mom and Dad can actually leave them more vulnerable to developing cavities.
Protect Your Child’s Oral Health
The best way to avoid sharing your oral bacteria with your child is to keep those kisses to the cheek, don’t share your spoon or fork with them, make sure they always have their own drink instead of giving them sips from yours, and don’t clean a dropped pacifier with your mouth.
As long as you’re taking good care of your oral health and hygiene, you don’t need to worry as much about spreading dangerous, cavity-causing germs with your kisses, but even then, avoiding shared utensils and cups is a simple habit worth keeping.
Good habits go both ways. Teaching your own children how to floss effectively and pairing that with a tooth-friendly diet helps keep their own oral bacteria levels in check as they grow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sharing Cavity-Causing Bacteria
Can cavities really be “contagious” between family members?
The bacteria that cause cavities can be transferred through saliva, such as by sharing utensils or kissing on the mouth. The cavity itself isn’t contagious, but the bacteria that contribute to it can spread between people.
Is it safe to kiss my baby on the cheek?
Yes. Cheek kisses don’t transfer oral bacteria the way mouth-to-mouth contact or shared utensils can, so they’re a safe way to show affection without the same risk.
Should I avoid tasting my child’s food from the same spoon?
It’s best to use separate utensils, since sharing a spoon or fork can pass adult oral bacteria to a child whose own oral microbiome and immune response are still developing.
Does having good oral hygiene reduce this risk?
Yes. Keeping your own oral bacteria levels low through regular brushing and flossing reduces the amount and concentration of bacteria you could potentially pass along.
What should I do if a pacifier falls on the floor?
Rinse it with clean water instead of putting it in your own mouth to clean it, since that transfers your oral bacteria directly to your child.