Dental Dam
Hear this word Dental Dam
Image description: A dental dam
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What Is It?
A thin sheet of latex placed over the vulva or anus during oral sex. A dental dam creates a barrier between one person’s body and another person’s mouth.
Dental dams help to prevent sexually transmitted infections from being passed between partners.
An Example
Val always makes sure they have dental dams in case Val and their date want to have oral sex with each other. Val uses dental dams on vulvas and the anus during oral sex. Val never uses the same dental dam on different body parts. Val throws the dental dam away in the trash after it is used once.
How to use dental dams
What to Know
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- Dental dams are available at health centers (often for free), and pharmacies.
- Dental dams can only be used once and on one body part at a time. Always throw away the dental dam in the trash after use.
- There is also FDA-approved latex underwear that can be worn during oral sex to prevent transmission of STIs and germs.
- Some people might put a small drop of water-based lubricant on the person’s skin under the dental dam to increase comfort and to help the dental dam stay on the person’s body.
- It is important to hold the dental dam in place, so it covers as much of the body as possible during oral sex and to avoid it moving out of place.
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