Arden said:
Kissing is so dirty...
No really, it is. Your mouth has more germs than a toilet bowl, and when you kiss someone you share all those germs.
But people don't think about that when they do it. ::love::
Yes indeed, Kissing is very dirty. Now for all the gross details (scientific explanation is minimal with sarcasm, comedy, and cold hard truth). The human mouth contains a minimum of between 8 and 10 different types of bacteria. The tongue is a particularly good breeding ground for little bugs. You can purchase at the local drug store a "Tongue Cleaner/Scraper" for about $5.00 (US). It is made of plastic, and has a wide curved plastic blade that is at the right angle for placing in the back of your mouth, pressing firmly against the tongue, and removing the "build-up" by moving it forward. This yucky matter is typically white with a hint of yellow in color, and is composed of bacteria (and their waste), food components, and saliva; and it can smell very bad. Just below the gum line, especially between the (a back) tooth and the gum live the really nasty bacteria, in a warm, moist and DARK incubator; and if you don't floss regularly, the odor from the bacteria in this area of your mouth will just about knock you over. As they live and grow, they manufacture chemicals known as oligosaccharides, a molecule that is BOTH a FAT and a SUGAR. These molecules make the bacteria VERY STICKY, so they adhere very well to the tooth. This is PLAQUE. After is has grown over the surface of the tooth at and below the gum line, it starts growning INTO your gum tissue, killing at it grows (RECEDING GUMS). This is one of the causes of GINGIVITIS, the other being the chemical assault launched upon it by the bacteria and the bodies response to fighting infection. For pictures, look on the web (Google), or visit your local library and search for books on "Dental Hygiene" (sp?) or the work of a "Dental Hygenist". I've read parts of a book written for dental hygenists and saw the diagrams. It's enough to making FLOSSING EVERYDAY a top priority in your life.
Listerine is the strongest oral antibacteria agent. It has copious amonts of ethanol (same kind in beer, wine, liquor) and other organic ingredients that are good at killing the bacteria, usually by assisting to dissolve their cellular membranes, or wreak havoc with membrane proteins. The ethanol does most of the damage, and it helps to dissolve other slimy/sticky secretions that bacteria swim in. NOTE: Listerine also contains agents that will cause nausia and vomiting when ingested in large amounts (more than a recommended dosage). So, if you are planning to abuse the alcohol in Listerine, you aren't going to drink very much of it without seeing it again really soon.