Dental dam, how effective is it to prevent venereal disease through oral sex?

Although it is impossible to get pregnant through oral sex, you can still catch venereal diseases if not done in a safe manner. However, using condoms alone is not necessarily enough to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections from oral sex. The reason is, not all parts of the penis are fully covered by condoms so that it does not rule out the possibility that the infection can still be transferred to other people when receiving or giving oral sex. Venereal disease can pass from the genital area to the mouth and from the mouth to the genital area through semen or vaginal fluids, for example when swallowing sperm (intentionally or not), or through direct contact with skin or cuts. The solution, you need to use a dental dam.

What is a dental dam?

Initially, dental dams were only used specifically during dental procedures at dentists to protect the patient's mouth area from bacteria while the mouth and teeth were being cleaned. However, nowadays this tool is commonly used as a protective method during sexual intercourse, considering that there is a high risk of transmitting venereal infections through oral and anal sex.

Dental dam (source: plannedparenthood.com)

Dental dams have the same principles as condoms in general. Namely as a barrier method so that body fluids from one person do not transfer to another during oral sex and / or oral-anal sex (rimming). Dental dams are used to protect you from venereal diseases that can be transmitted from the mouth, throat, or anus.

Dental dams are thin, rectangular rubber latex sheets that can be stretched. Dental dams are available in silicone or polyurethane versions as an alternative for people who are allergic to latex.

How do you use a dental dam?

This product is used for oral-vaginal sex or it can also be used for oral-anal. Dental dams act as a barrier or shield between a person's mouth and their partner's penis, vagina, or anus.

The way to use it is to stretch it to cover the openings of the genital area (for example, the vaginal opening or anal canal) during oral sex from start to finish so that there is no direct contact between skin or skin and body fluids.

Here are the steps for using it:

Example of how to use dental dams during oral-vaginal sex (source: CDC.gov)

Remove the product from the packaging and make sure that it is in good condition.
Check the expiration date
Make sure that there are no torn parts.
Use the tool to cover the mouth of the vagina or the mouth of the anus.
After use, tie it up and throw it away in the trash and don't use it repeatedly.

Just like condoms, this safety sheet can only be used for one time sex, from start to finish. Replace with a new one for next use. Dental dams must also be stretched first in the genital area before actually having oral sex; do not only use it in the middle of the "round". This safety device can only be removed after you and your partner are sure it is completely finished.

What sexual diseases can be prevented by using dental dams?

There are many sexually transmitted diseases that can be spread through oral sex, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, the herpes virus (types 1 and 2), HPV and HIV. Depending on the type of mouth-to-genital contact, STIs can affect the throat, genital area (penis or vagina), urethra, anus, and rectum. For example, if your partner has an infection of their penis or vagina (such as chlamydia or gonorrhea), and you have oral sex without using a barrier, you could catch an STI in your mouth and throat.

A study in the New England Journal of Medical states that unsafe oral sex can lead to throat cancer in men and cervical cancer in women due to HPV infection.

Condoms can be used as emergency dental dams

This safety device is already available in packaged products. However, if you can't find this type of product, you can use a brand new condom as an emergency alternative. Here's a guide to making them from condoms:

Make sure that the condom is new and still good and has no torn or damaged parts.
Cut both ends of the condom, the tip of the head of the penis and the top edge of the rubber.
Cut the condom lengthwise on one side to form a rectangle.
Use this condom cut the way you would use a dental dam (see above)

Using dental dams can greatly reduce the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases. However, dental dams are not the preferred safety method for protecting oneself during oral sex. Condoms should be the first choice for all kinds of sexual activity. Condoms should still be prioritized for use during oral sex activities that specifically involve mouth to penis (blowjob) rather than "dental dams".