The idea that dentists can spot whether someone has recently been ‘partaking in sexual activity’ just by examining their mouth has been doing the rounds for a while. But how much truth is there to it?
For many people, sitting in the dentist’s chair is uncomfortable enough without wondering whether their private life might somehow be visible during a routine check-up.
It is not exactly the kind of question most patients would feel confident raising mid-appointment, but one dental professional has addressed the claim directly.
Dr Milad Shadrooh spoke to VICE about the theory and appeared genuinely surprised that it was something people were asking about.
“Wow! I don’t know about that. I’ve never been asked this question before!” he said.
According to him, patients probably do not need to panic about a dentist piecing together what has happened in their personal lives from one look inside their mouth.
He added: “Never in my life have I been able to tell if a patient has done oral s*x. I don’t know any dentist who would, either. What a question to ask!”
The rumour suggests that recent oral sexual activity could leave red marks on the roof of the mouth, but Dr Shadrooh was not convinced this is something dentists would generally be able to identify.
“Unless they did it literally like two minutes ago in the waiting room, then you might smell it? That’s quite disgusting,” he told the publication.
When it comes to kissing, he explained that bacteria ‘may’ be passed between people. However, one of the bigger concerns is the possible transmission of Herpes Simplex Virus, commonly associated with cold sores.
That said, the answer may not be completely straightforward, as some medical reports have discussed signs that could potentially be linked to recent activity.
One example came in a 2018 BMJ case report, where dentists noted ‘a circular-shaped erythematous lesion with a clear centre on the patient’s soft palate’. The patient later confirmed they had taken part in the sexual activity within the previous three days.
So, while the common claim appears to be far from a reliable dentist superpower, there may be rare cases where certain marks raise questions.
Either way, anyone who feels awkward about the possibility may prefer to leave a little extra time before heading in for their appointment.
What dentists can definitely notice, however, are things such as cavities, signs that you smoke and, in some cases, indications that you may be pregnant.