Doctor offers some kissing trivia compliments

Here is some kissing trivia compliments of Marc Liechtung, DMD, inventor of the Snap-On Smile™ and principal in New York-based Manhattan Dental Arts, a practice that specializes in cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

1.    Kissing can transmit cavity-causing bacteria to your newborn.  Studies show that infants are not born with the bacteria that cause cavities, but that they are infected most often by the transfer of saliva from their parents.

2.    Kissing can cause cavities. If you kiss someone who may have bad bacteria in his/her mouth, their saliva could pass the bacteria on to you, thereby causing cavities. On the other hand, according to Dr. Liechtung, others believe that kissing may actually prevent cavities since saliva is the body's natural way of cleaning the mouth.

3.    You burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss.

4.    The average person will spend an estimated 20,160 minutes kissing in their lifetime.

5.    First Kiss. 50% of all people have their first kiss before the age of 14.

6.    Ninety percent of people in the world engage in kisses on the lips. People in other cultures, such as Eskimos, rub noses.

7.    Kissing Record. In September 1990 Alfred Wolfram kissed 8,001 people in 8 hours (over 16 people a minute) at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

8.    First Movie Kiss. John C. Rice kissed May Irwin in 1896 and became the first couple to be recorded kissing in the film The Kiss.

9.    South Africa Bans Kissing. In December 2007 the South African government banned kissing involving anyone under the age of 16, regardless of consent.

10.  Blarney Stone. According to legend, any person who kisses the Blarney Stone in the Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland, will be endowed with the gift of gab.

To keep your mouth kissable, Dr. Liechtung suggests daily brushing and an annual visit to your dentist for a check-up.  For additional information please go to www.ManhattanDentalArts.com

Source: Manhattan Dental Arts