Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryPurposeTypesHow to UseEffectivenessFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
History
Purpose
Types
How to Use
Effectiveness
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental dams are thin, flexible pieces of latex or polyurethane used as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus duringoral sex. Like external and internal condoms, they’re designed to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and should be used only once.
Ready-to-use dental dams can be purchased online or at some drug stores; you also can make a DIY dental dam out of an external or internal condom.
Alina Rudya/Bell Collective / Getty Images
A dental dam is similar to an external and internal condom in that it is used to help protect sexual partners from sexually transmitted infections but is designed to be used during oral sex.
In the 1990s, people began using dental dams for oral sex. In 1998, the condom company Glyde USA received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a latex dental dam designed for oral sex. Originally called Glyde Dam Lollyes, the product now is available as Sheer Glyde Dams.
Dental dams can help reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection when used during oral-vaginal sex (cunnilingus) and oral-anal sex (anilingus, also known as rimming). They prevent the transmission of viruses and other microbes from one partner to another directly or via body fluids.
Dental dams can also act as a barrier against bacteria found in fecal matter such asEscherichia coli (E. coli), during oral-anal sex.
Most dental dams are made of latex. However, there are versions made of polyurethane for people who areallergic to latex. To encourage their use, some manufacturers have created flavored dental dams.
Dental dams are most easily available online. They’re sometimes sold in drugstores in the family planning aisle or from public health departments. Wherever purchased, dental dams are quite affordable: The typical cost is $1 or $2 each.
DIY Dental Dams
Dental dams aren’t as readily available as external or internal condoms, but in a pinch, you can make your own using a non-lubricated latex or polyurethaneexternal condom; it can be flavored if that’s your preference:
Don’t be tempted to use plastic wrap as a makeshift dental dam. There’s no research to show it’s effective for preventing STIs. What’s more, the thickness of plastic wrap may dull sensation.
WhiteJack / Getty Images
Using a dental dam is simple: During oral-vaginal sex, the dam is placed flat over the vulva to serve as a barrier between the mouth of the person performing oral sex and the vagina of the person receiving it. Similarly, during oral-anal sex the dental dam is placed over the anus to create a barrier between the mouth and the anus.
DoUse a new dental dam every time.Check the expiration date before use and follow instructions on the packageCheck for tears in the latex or polyurethaneApply a water-based or siliconelubricantto the side of the dental dam that touches the skin to help prevent breakage and improve sensation.Store dental dams in a cool, dry place.Dispose of dental dams in the trash after use or if the expiration date has passed.
Use a new dental dam every time.
Check the expiration date before use and follow instructions on the package
Check for tears in the latex or polyurethane
Apply a water-based or siliconelubricantto the side of the dental dam that touches the skin to help prevent breakage and improve sensation.
Store dental dams in a cool, dry place.
Dispose of dental dams in the trash after use or if the expiration date has passed.
Fit a used dental dam over in order to reuse it. You could still be exposed to body fluids harboring viruses or bacteria.
Stretch a dental dam since it may lead to a tear.
Use a spermicide or make a dental dam out of external condoms with spermicide because it can cause irritation.
Few studies have examined the use of dental dams for preventing STIs, but, likely, they can substantially reduce the risk of infection from a wide variety of viruses and bacteria known to be transmissible via oral sex, including:
Causes and Risk Factors of STIs
The same goes for STIs associated with oral-anal sex:
A Word From Verywell
While the idea of using a dental dam during oral sex may seem unwieldy or unpleasant, it doesn’t have to be if you make it part of the experience rather than a necessary precaution. If you have a partner who’s reluctant to use a dental dam, think very carefully about proceeding, especially if they are not a long-term partner or someone you’ve just met. The encounter likely won’t be worth the risk to your health or to theirs.
Frequently Asked QuestionsDental dams are used for oral sex and act as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus. They are used to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Like external and internal condoms, they should be used only once, then discarded.Dental dams can be bought online as well as in drugstores, although they may not be as easy to find in stores as external and internal condoms.
Dental dams are used for oral sex and act as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus. They are used to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Like external and internal condoms, they should be used only once, then discarded.
Dental dams can be bought online as well as in drugstores, although they may not be as easy to find in stores as external and internal condoms.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Dental dam use.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral sex and HIV risk.Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):129–132. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.167133Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Dental dam use.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral sex and HIV risk.Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):129–132. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.167133Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Dental dam use.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral sex and HIV risk.Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):129–132. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.167133Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Dental dam use.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral sex and HIV risk.
Kumar T, Puri G, Aravinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R.Oral sex and oral health: an enigma in itself.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015;36(2):129–132. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.167133
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
