For many couples, oral sex is one way to get sexual pleasure. In oral sex, you can have the risk of experiencing sexually transmitted diseases. To minimize these risks, you can use a dental dam, a protector of the mouth area during oral sex, or also known on the market with the term female oral condoms. What kind of shape and use is a dental dam? Check out the following reviews.
What's that dental dam?
A dental dam is a thin, flexible latex sheet or polyurethane used by dentists to protect the patient's mouth during dental care procedures. In addition to being used in dental care, dental dam can also be used as a protector during oral or anal sex.
Dental dam sheets are used on the vagina or anus so that they become a barrier between the mouth of the partner and the vagina or anus. In this way, you can protect yourself from the risk of sexually transmitted diseases but still get clitoris stimulation.
Although it can minimize the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, dental dam cannot replace the function of contraceptives such as condoms. If you plan to postpone pregnancy, you should choose contraceptives such as condoms, IUDs or birth control pills.
Read more: Oral Sex, Should You Use Condoms?
How to use dental dam?
Using a dental dam is very easy, but to provide optimal protection, you must be careful when using it. How to use a dental dam, among others:
- Release the dental dam from the packaging and carefully open the folds
- Put it down the dental dam on top of the vulva during oral sex. The dental dam must be large enough to cover the whole vaginal area.
- Hold on to the dental dam in its place during oral sex. You can apply lubricants from water or silicon between rental dams to make intimate sessions more fun.
- If the dental dam is damaged during sex, it's best to install a dental dam which was new before continuing sex.
- Throw dental dam after being used.
Dental dam that have been used for sexual intercourse should not be reused because they can trigger the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. While using rental dam, You are also advised to use condoms for more optimal protection.
If you don't find a dental dam at a pharmacy or medical device shop, you can make a dental dam from condoms. How to make the dental dam itself, namely:
- Remove the condoms from the packaging carefully, then open the rolls
- Cut the tip of the condom and the bottom of the rubber that rolled up
- Cut the condoms longitudinally from the end to the base
- Put the condom on top of the vagina
Read more: Can HIV Be Transmitted Through Sex Orals?
Tips safe for having sex oral
Many people think that oral sex is safer when compared to penetration sex. But, like other forms of sex, oral sex that brings together the mouth and genitals also risks transmitting sexually transmitted diseases.
For those of you who want to have oral sex safely, you can apply the following tips:
- Use condoms during sexual intercourse. Make sure the condoms do not expire, and the installation and use are correct
- Use a dental dam which functions as a barrier between the mouth and vagina or anus
- Avoid manifold water or vaginal fluid entering the eyes
- Regularly do screening for sexually transmitted diseases (IMS). If it is indicated that you have an IMS, you should avoid sexual contact and do proper treatment.
A dental dam is one of the tools you can use to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted disease infection. You can get dental dam at pharmacies, and medical device stores or make their own from condoms. If you have questions about sexually transmitted diseases, you should immediately go to a doctor or use a consultation feature in the Ai Care application.
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- dr. Yuliana Inosensia
Cleveland Clinic. What Is a Dental Dam?. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22887-dental-dam
Holland, K. (2023). Everything You Need to Know About Using a Dental Dam. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/dental-dam
Better Health. Oral Sex. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Oral-sex
Zambon, V. (2020). Oral sex STI risk charts: Transmission and prevention. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/oral-sex-std-risk-chart