This Dentist Went Viral For Sharing Why You Should Never Kiss Your Baby On The Mouth
Costa Mesa, California. Do you ever kiss your baby on the lips? While it may seem innocent and harmless, TikToker @Joycethedentist shared a series of videos about why you should never kiss your children on the mouth.
“I never kiss my baby on the lips because as much as I want to, I have had a long history of having tons of cavities,” Dr. Joyce Kahng, a cosmetic dentist based in Costa Mesa, explained while her son lay on her chest.
“That cavity-causing bacteria can transfer to the little guy and I want to give him the best chance of not inheriting my bacteria.”
You can inherit mouth bacteria? Thousands of people from the TikTok community did not even know that was possible. So, Dr. Joyce continued to post follow-up videos with further explanation.
“So back when I was in dental school, they made us do an experiment where we took some saliva from inside of our mouths and grew it on a petri dish,” she said.
“Most of my friends who never had cavities had this type of growth.”
She then pointed to an image with a very minimal amount of singular bacterial cells.
“Meanwhile, my petri dish looked like this– an explosion of bacteria! And it was quite embarrassing, to be honest,” Dr. Joyce continued while showing a photo of her own petri dish. The bacteria cells were multiplied across the dish and resembled polka dots.
TikTok; pictured above is Dr. Joyce Kahng with her son
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“It was at that moment that I realized oral hygiene was only part of the game. If I have this type of bacteria, then I would forever be predisposed to being cavity-prone. Much more than my friends, despite me having solid oral hygiene,” she explained.
It was heartbreaking for her to learn that she could transfer the same bacteria to her baby, making him cavity-prone as well.
In a third video, Dr. Joyce explained how there are so many ways that people unintentionally spread mouth bacteria. It can, of course, happen by kissing, but also by sharing cups and utensils.
She even recalled a common practice by most parents– testing your child’s food.
“I found myself several times licking a piece of food to make sure it wasn’t too spicy before giving it to him. Then, I realized I have to give him a separate piece than the one I licked,” Dr. Joyce said.
As a dentist, it is very easy for Dr. Joyce to understand the spread of bacteria. But, it can be harder to explain to babysitters and even other family members.
Still, she believes that all caregivers must be on board to prevent the spread.
“I just wanted to share because I don’t think that most people realize this can happen. I only learned this in dental school and wanted to pass along the information,” Dr. Joyce finished her third video.
Her series of videos sparked tons of interest from the TikTok community.
One user asked an excellent question about whether or not exposing your child to germs would help them build immunity. So, Dr. Joyce created yet another follow-up video to address this belief.
“I want to make a point that I am not afraid of bacteria; having bacteria is normal. But, when you know that a specific bacteria causes a specific problem, your best bet is to reduce that bacteria,” she explained.
“Also, babies are not born with this very specific bacteria that causes cavities. It is transferred, and studies show that the first four years of their life is the most important for establishing oral health.”
So, as much as you may want to hug and kiss your little one, it is much better to opt for their cheek. You will save them from a lifetime of potential cavities and the headache of dental bills.
@joycethedentist I try to be mindful of this because I know what can happen but it’s honestly so hard #momtok #stemtok #dentist #newmomlife
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