Dentist Mom Explains Why She Doesn't Kiss Her Baby on the Lips

kissing baby on the lips cavity-causing bacteria Dr. Joyce Kahng dentist mom dental hygiene American Academy of Pediatrics Dr Michael Chong BMC Oral Health University of Oulo Jorma Virtanen cold sores

By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Dec 13, 07:56 pm

Most mothers are drawn to kiss their baby on the lips as a sign of love and affection, but a mother from California, who has a successful dental practice, does not recommend doing this, and she doesn't even kiss her own child in the mouth.

Dentist mom, Dr. Joyce Kahng, found out years ago in an experiment in dental school that she has more cavity-causing bacteria in her mouth than most people. She explains in a video on TikTok that she has decided early on that she will not be kissing her children on the lips because she could easily pass these bacteria to them.

Kahng further explained that bacteria transfer might also happen when parents or caregivers share their utensils while eating with the kids. She said that babies are not born with cavity-causing bacteria and won't develop a stronger resistance to this until they are four years old. This age is when the child's oral microbiome matures.

@joycethedentist #greenscreen it was in that moment I realized bacteria is key. Oral hygiene can only make up for so much. #momtok #dentist #stemtok #momsoftiktok ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依

It's Not About Neglect or Bad Hygiene

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Kahng said she understands if it's difficult for moms to resist kissing their babies. Personally, she tries as much as she can to be mindful of it. The expert stressed that someone with a good dental hygiene habit may still end up with more cavity-causing bacteria because of other factors, including genetics.

"Some people are more predisposed to cavities than others regardless of their level of oral hygiene, and that's because we're not all the same," the dentist mom said. She emphasized that this has more to do with "susceptibility" to the bacteria rather than neglect or bad hygiene.

Kahng realized that she could make TikTok videos about dental health to educate her followers, especially parents who are not aware of the risks to their kids because this kind of information is not common knowledge. She also explained that her intention is not to shame any mother if they are in the habit of kissing their kids or sharing food from the same plate or bowl.

A study in the journal BMC Oral Health proved that many parents are unaware of how easy mothers can transfer cavity-causing bacteria from their mouth to their babies. Lead study author Jorma Virtanen and her team at the University of Oulo found out that over 38 percent of mothers don't know the risks and have been kissing their baby on the lips or sharing utensils with their kids. About 11 percent said they do not believe that bacteria can be transmitted from the mother to the baby.

Another Dentist's Advice

Dr. Michael Chong from the Pediatric Dental Practice in the Gold Coast has said the same thing as Kahng and even advised against parents pre-chewing their baby's food because they risk bacteria spread through their saliva. The dentist said that moms should ensure that they get their regular dental check-ups to prevent any active cavity that could likely be passed on to the kids. He said that a simple act of blowing onto the baby's hot soup could be a bacteria transfer risk as well.

Aside from protecting their dental health, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also said kissing babies on the lips, especially those under six months old, could cause cold sores that could be very dangerous. The doctors reminded parents that babies are still developing their immune system, so they should hold off on kissing the lips until they are older.