{"id":2047,"date":"2025-05-07T13:14:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T13:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flure.com\/blog\/?p=2047"},"modified":"2025-05-07T13:24:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T13:24:01","slug":"dental-dam-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/sex-ed\/dental-dam-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Dam \u2013 Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to safe sex, there are so many more options than condoms or birth control. And no, we\u2019re not talking about the pulling-out method because this is definitely not safe at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dental dam, on the other hand, is a great method of keeping yourself healthy and sound after a sexual relationship with someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Dental Dam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dental dams are so-called barrier protection methods. Those are small pieces of latex or non-allergic alternative materials that are used during sex to protect a person during oral sex or when they\u2019re contacting the anus with their mouths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n

Read about Plan B<\/a>, or the morning-after pill, is an emergency contraceptive drug that is designed to prevent pregnancy\u00a0after<\/em>\u00a0you have unprotected sex or your primary contraceptive failed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why Do People Use Dental Dams?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sex doesn\u2019t always happen with someone you know well and someone whose health you know a lot about. This is when the risk of catching an STI is at its highest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, STIs are not a welcome bonus gift after sex, so dental dams are applied during a blowjob, anilingus, or cunnilingus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, STIs are not just transmitted through blood, but they can be given to someone through all bodily fluids. So if you thought that as long as you\u2019re using the condom or birth control you\u2019re safe \u2013 unfortunately, that\u2019s not really the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental dams are also a big hit for those who love some anus action. Penetrative sex is covered by a condom, but if you\u2019re about to put your tongue there, and you\u2019re feeling uneasy about being in such close contact with the anus and possibly touching fecal matter, then this barrier method of protection is just what you need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beautiful part about dental dams is that they\u2019re super portable. They\u2019re lightweight and small, so you can take them anytime anywhere, even if you just have a small pocket on you and nowhere else to put it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do Dental Dams Protect Against? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dental dams are great at protecting us against the widest range of diseases and infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those infections are also transmitted by penetrative sex, that\u2019s why condoms are so prevalent. Unfortunately, sexual education is still an issue and is non-existent in many societies, and doctors are also not inclined to share this information when talking about safe intimacy practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why so many have never even heard about dental dams and how they\u2019re great at reducing or eliminating risks of getting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • HIV<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Chlamydia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Syphilis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Hepatitis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Gonorrhea<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    If we\u2019re talking about anilingus, there are so many bacteria there that come from fecal matter. None of them are good for you to come in contact with. In addition to bacteria, you can catch intestinal parasites if you\u2019re not being careful or are simply unlucky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Overall, dental dams protect you against a whole range of sex-associated risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Sexually transmitted diseases<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. HIV\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Bacterial infections\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Skin-to-skin contact STIs\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Plus, they\u2019re also just good for your hygiene and safety. Bodily fluids are not bad and shouldn\u2019t be villainized, but they add more risk to sex. That\u2019s why it\u2019s always better to have one or two at hand if you\u2019re actively dating and sleeping with different people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What are Dental Dams Useless Against? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Dental dams sound pretty cool, but they\u2019re not your one-stop shop solution. There are several things that dental dams are unable to guard you from, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Herpes, if the herpes lesion is not covered by the dam and you come in contact with it.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Public lice are not afraid of the dental dam. There\u2019s enough of them to spread around genitals that you\u2019re guaranteed to find them on yourself later.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • HPV, a.k.a. human papillomavirus is shared through contact with skin, so unless your sex partner is covered in dental dams completely, you have a good risk of catching it.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Overall, it\u2019s important to remember that while protection methods we use for sex help reduce risks, they don\u2019t eliminate them completely. You can still come in contact with something that results in a virus or a disease. Dental dams are effective, but they\u2019re not superheroes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Sex is messy and intense, and people move around a lot, and their bodily fluids move with them. It\u2019s possible that a dental dam will be used incorrectly or it will be too late by the time it\u2019s used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Also, if you reuse them multiple times or flip them over, then you can actually increase your chances of getting something you’d rather not contract. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Where to Find a Dental Dam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Dental dams are not sold everywhere in supermarkets like condoms are, but you can still find them in major pharmacy chains and drugstores. Also, most online marketplaces will carry them, so you can ship a few dental dams to your house in a discreet package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Some sex shops will carry them too, and so will community health centers and LGBTQ+ centers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Bonus tip: <\/strong>Although it\u2019s not ideal, you can DIY a dental dam. Get a condom or something else made of latex, cut it, and use it as a makeshift dental dam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you\u2019re unsure where to get a dental dam in your town, your safest bet is to google this type of protection plus your location, and you\u2019ll find spots nearest to you where they\u2019re available for sale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How to Use a Dental Dam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        If you\u2019ve never used a dental dam before and are only learning about them now, you might freak out a little. Don\u2019t sweat it though, they\u2019re really not that hard to operate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Here\u2019s a little step-by-step guide for using dental dams:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Take a package and check for damages, such as holes and tears.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Open up the package carefully and skip sharp objects or you\u2019ll risk damaging it.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Place it over the area of interest, i.e., vulva or anus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Hold the dam with your hands to make sure it\u2019s steady and not slipping.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Dispose after first use and do not reuse. Throw it away immediately so bodily fluids on it don\u2019t become a hazard.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Bonus tip: Use a Water-Based Lubricant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          If you’d like to improve the sensation and make it more comfortable for your partner, use a water-based lubricant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Water-based alternatives are the safest for dental dams because they prevent tears. Using oil or silicone-based lubricants can cause the material to thin out and weaken, so it will be easy to break or tear it. This is especially true for latex dental dams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Water-based lubricants are universal and they\u2019re also easy to wash off from the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Important: Never Flip it Over<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Anytime you need to reapply a dental dam is when you need to use a brand new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Switching partners, positions, or areas of application are all causes for getting a fresh new dental dam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Flipping the dam and using the other side is simply defeating the purpose of using it at all. Like why would you press your mouth against all the bodily fluids that you were trying so hard to avoid? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          By flipping the dam, you\u2019re skyrocketing the risks of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Cross-contamination of bodily fluids (from the dam to you)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Catching STI\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Messing up the hygiene<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            How to Make Your Own Dental Dam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Dental dams, on average, cost more than a condom and they\u2019re hard to find too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            If you really struggle with getting one, consider making one at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Take a condom<\/strong>, cut off the tip, cut down one side to create a small sheet, and unroll it flat.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. You can also use a latex glove<\/strong>, cut off its fingers, and cut down the sides of the glove into flat sheets.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Naturally, using a professionally-made dental dam is better, but you can achieve a similar result with a homemade version. In any case, a DIY-ed dam is better than no dam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Safety Tips for Dental Dams?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              The rules for the safe use of dental dams are really simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Never use it twice<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Never flip it\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Switch with every new area\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. Open the package carefully<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. Use water or silicone-based lubricants\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              6. Dispose immediately after use\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                If you\u2019re out of dams, use fingers or sex toys to continue the play, and skip the tongue game until you restock on dental dams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Other Protection Must Haves During Intimacy <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                There are many protection methods for sexual intimacy, and it\u2019s best if you consult your doctor to find the most fitting options for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Besides condoms, here are more options for sexy time that will keep you protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                1. Lubricants reduce friction and help prevent condom breakage.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                2. Gloves are great for oral and anal stimulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                3. Finger cots are also used for manual stimulation.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                4. Aftercare items, such as wipes and wash products designed specifically for genital areas.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Last but not least, STI testing is something you should do regularly. In fact, it\u2019s great to run tests before you get intimate with someone new for the first time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Sexual health is taboo and downplayed a lot which results in so many people putting themselves at risk. It\u2019s understandable that you wouldn\u2019t want to run such tests because they\u2019re intimidating and scary, but staying healthy is more important than anything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Also, if your new date asks you about testing for STI, don\u2019t treat it like a personal insult, they\u2019re just being mindful and thoughtful, and they also care for their partners, as they get tested regularly. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  When it comes to safe sex, there are so many more options than condoms or birth control. And no, we\u2019re not talking about the pulling-out method because this is definitely not safe at all.  A dental dam, on the other hand, is a great method of keeping yourself healthy and sound after a sexual relationship […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sex-ed"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2047"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2050,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047\/revisions\/2050"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flureapp.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}