Oral health and safer oral sex

[The Doctor]

During a recent teeth cleaning, my dentist advised me that I had a loose upper wisdom tooth that I should keep an eye on. I experienced a sore throat last week, localized to the same side as the tooth, and checked with my doctor just to rule out strep throat. The culture came back negative, so I visited the dentist yesterday. She confirmed that the wisdom tooth is infected and recommended extraction rather than drilling. Coincidentally, the molar in front of it is infected and requires root canal. My first cavity in a decade.

She wanted to pull the tooth on the spot. I nearly had a stroke right there in the chair. I handle most dental procedures -- including root canal -- with aplomb, but the thought lying there while she yanks the tooth out gives me the creeps, no matter how much she freezes. So I'm seeing a surgeon Monday for a consult -- the idea is to put me right under. Hopefully, it will come out next week. My regular dentist will perform the root canal on the second tooth after two weeks. I have antibiotics, and my dentist kindly gave me a script for Tylenol 3, just in case.

This got me researching the risks of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection while my teeth are infected. Based on my cursory reading, it does raise the risk level. I'll get chapter and verse from the surgeon next week. My last screening, about a month ago, for HIV, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis was negative.

Anyone have any interesting sources on this topic.

In the meantime, the playground is closed, so to speak.

[BiDaveDtown]

You should be asking medical professionals these questions, not people who are random strangers online. Most people have already known for decades that you are not supposed to give oral sex when you have a cut or sore in your mouth, or when you have had recent major dental work like getting a tooth extracted.

[4_oral_fun]

Definitely abstain from oral sex while you have a sore, infestion or have bitten your tongue or cheek. A dental tech friend once told me you shouldn't have oral for a couple of days after cleaning due to abrasion and possible knicks of the gums

[Gearbox]

You shouldn't even brush your teeth less than 20mins before oral sex, due to minute scratches the brush can cause on your gums. That's what I read, and abide by anyway. ANY open wound etc = No sucky licky!

[The Doctor]

You should be asking medical professionals these questions, not people who are random strangers online. Most people have already known for decades that you are not supposed to give oral sex when you have a cut or sore in your mouth, or when you have had recent major dental work like getting a tooth extracted.

Copy that. I posted that I would be asking the surgeon detailed questions. I simply asked if people had sources -- ie., a link to a reliable article, etc.

[The Doctor]

As to the other suggestions, I was aware of elevated risk associated with brushing before oral sex, sores in the mouth. What had not occurred to me was risks associated with an infected tooth, probably because I haven't had one in years.