Benefit #1: Your pearly whites stay cleaner
Though
it’s certainly no replacement for brushing your teeth, kissing can
break down oral plaque and prevent cavities by stimulating the creation
of saliva, which helps wash bacteria away from the tooth’s surface.
“Kissing is nature’s cleansing process,” says Heidi Hausauer, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.
“Saliva washes out the mouth and helps remove the cavity-causing food
particles that accumulate after meals.” The minerals in saliva also help
rebuild tooth enamel, thereby preventing decay. So not only does
kissing give you cleaner teeth, but you could actually end up saving
money on your dental bills, too.
Benefit #2: Keep a younger-looking face as you age
Speaking
of saving money, you can say goodbye to Botox and acid peels (or at
least cut down on those pricey anti-aging treatments). Ever notice how
happy, loving couples still retain an air of youth, even as they grow
older? The answer could be down to frequent kissing. Sex therapist and
author Dr. Ava Cadell notes that “kissing can give you a facelift. We
use over 30 facial muscles while kissing, which helps to keep muscles
smooth and tight and prevents your cheeks from sagging.” Laurel House,
author of QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness,
Fashion and Finance — on a Less-Than-Fabulous Budget, also likens
kissing to a toning session for your face: “Like working out the muscles
in your abs, working out your facial muscles can help tone and tighten
them, minimizing the visible signs of aging.”
Benefit #3: A revved-up metabolism
In
addition to providing a facial workout, kissing can also help you lose
inches from your waistline, too. As you lean in for the kiss, you may
feel as though your heart’s racing. It’s not just your imagination; it
is beating faster. “As the heart beats faster, it releases adrenaline
and other neurotransmitters in the blood. The boost in adrenaline
increases your metabolism and helps burn extra calories,” says Dr.
Varnado.
During a really passionate kiss, you can burn anywhere
from two to five calories per minute, which is double your normal
resting rate. Dr. Cadell put this to the test on the TV show, The
Doctors. By hooking a kissing couple up to a heart monitor and calorie
counters, Dr. Cadell found that over the course of an hour, they burned a
combined total of 575 calories — or 287.5 calories each.
While
you certainly can’t rely on kissing to help you lose a significant
amount of weight, it might give your metabolism an extra boost and help
shed a pound or two.
Benefit #4: Your immune system gets a healthy boost
Just
like working out, kissing can boost your immunity. So if you’re a
germophobe, listen up: “Swapping spit means swapping germs, and that is
nature’s natural form of vaccination,” explains Dr. Varnado. “Being
exposed to others’ germs causes your body makes antibodies against those
germs, which can in turn lead to immunity and prevent illness.” This
all holds true as long as you’re not kissing anyone with any diseases or
cold sores present in his or her mouth, so make sure the object of your
affection isn’t coming down with the flu before you pucker up.
Benefit #5: Improved mood and decreased stress levels overall
Ever
notice how you feel after a good make-out session? It’s like you’re
floating on cloud nine, all your cares melt away, and you feel like you
could do anything. That’s because kissing releases nature’s
antidepressant, oxytocin. Dr. Joshua Gizersky, founder and medical
director of Vitality Logix Internal Medicine, says that “a passionate
kiss will spike oxytocin, leading to better sex and orgasm.”
But
kissing doesn’t just increase the production of feel-good chemicals in
our bodies — it lowers our cortisol and cholesterol levels, too. “A
study of cohabiting and married couples showed that an increased
frequency of kissing decreases stress and cholesterol levels. Stress is a
well-known risk factor for heart disease,” says Dr. Varnado. And a
healthy heart means a longer life!
Benefit #6: A natural source of pain relief
Last
but not least, kissing provides a natural form of pain relief. Before
reaching for an aspirin the next time you’ve got a headache, grab your
honey and lay on a big smooch instead. Dr. Varnado notes that “kissing
releases natural chemicals in the body called endorphins, which can be
more powerful than morphine to relieve pain” — without the all the
negative side effects of using a narcotic, of course.
It seems
that you already have all the tools and chemicals necessary to improve
your health, feel better, and manage stress… right inside your own body.
And all you need to do is plant a few kisses first!
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