The Surprising Side Effects Of Kissing

Newsflash: Kissing someone else could improve your mental health. According to the British Council, kissing ramps up the production of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, three hormones known for making us feel good by activating the brain's pleasure centers. Dopamine, in particular, is extremely important in regulating stress by responding to stress when it happens (via Experimental & Molecular Medicine). Additionally, people with long-term stress tend to produce lower levels of dopamine (via Psych Congress Network), which could lead to a cycle of stress that's not easy to combat.

So, why not try reducing stress naturally through kissing? Professor and doctor of philosophy in communication Kory Floyd (via Arizona State University) says that affectionate people have better odds of reducing stress than non-affectionate people. One of Floyd's studies noted that kissing, specifically, can lower stress. Floyd's research has found that people who openly show their affection do not respond as negatively or sharply to stress as those who are less affectionate.

When you kiss someone — even if it's just a peck on the cheek — you need to use your facial muscles. Of course, a smaller kiss won't result in using as many muscles as more passionate kisses. Still, you'll use anywhere from two to 34 facial muscles, depending on how into your smooches you get (via The American Journal Of Medicine).

What does this mean for you? For starters, strengthening a face muscle known as orbicularis oris is important for keeping food down after swallowing. You use this muscle when you kiss, which could help it remain strong for swallowing, chewing, and, of course, kissing more (via the National Library of Medicine). Also, researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine say that exercising the face may even reduce wrinkles and make you look younger. "Muscle growth is increasing the facial volume and counteracting the effects of age-related fat thinning and skin loosening," explains assistant research professor Emily Poon (via Northwestern Now). If you ever feel the need to experiment with facial exercises to see if they improve wrinkles, kissing might be a fun way to do it.

According to experts at Infinity Dental Associates, one of saliva's most important roles is being a natural cleanser for the mouth. As it moves through the mouth, it washes away food and drink particles that normally would stay on your teeth until you brush them. WebMD also states that saliva can help combat germs in your mouth, and contains important minerals and nutrients your teeth need to stay strong and healthy.

Of course, kissing — especially passionate kissing — boosts saliva production, which could help your mouth stay cleaner overall. So, there may be some benefits for you and your mouth when you participate in deep kissing with a partner. But to be on the safe side, avoid kissing a person when they have symptoms of sickness or signs of cold sores. And, most importantly, don't substitute kissing for good oral hygiene; brushing and flossing are still necessary for the best possible oral health (via Infinity Dental Associates).

Kissing your partner good night becomes a habit for many couples who have been together for a while. However, science suggests that this simple bedtime act can have some impressive benefits for your sleep. According to The Better Sleep Council, showing affection or being intimate before you go to sleep could improve your overall sleep quality that night, thanks to the ramped-up production of oxytocin that occurs from intimacy with your loved one.

A Silentnight study (via Prima) researched the effects of a good night kiss on the body's ability to sleep. The study found that a whopping 70% of participants reported better sleep if they kissed their partners good night. Additionally, as many as 38% of women admitted to sleeping poorly if they didn't have that kiss before bedtime. Silentnight sleep expert Nerina Ramlakhan explains: "Hearing that people sleep better after a good night's sleep makes sense, as kissing decreases the stress hormone cortisol and increases serotonin levels in the brain, so [it] can have a similar effect to meditation, which is a great way to drift off."

Kissing doesn't just make you feel euphoric; it also has benefits that could improve your physical health. According to Dr. Kory Floyd (via Arizona State University), people who show affection — whether through kissing, hugging, or touching — tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and stress levels, all of which can significantly impact several aspects of your health. Because kissing may strengthen your bond with your partner and help you enhance feelings of love and affection, it could also do wonders for your heart. Cardiologist Christopher Suhar tells Scripps, "Blood pressure responds to calmness and peace. If you're in love, you're calmer and more at peace, which could translate into lower blood pressure."

A study conducted by Floyd and other researchers and published in the Western Journal of Communication evaluated the effects of kissing on 52 people in cohabiting or marital relationships. Each couple completed a six-week trial that included self-reported relationship assessments measuring elements of their relationship, like kissing habits and communication, and laboratory testing to record physical markers, like cholesterol levels. Ultimately, the researchers found that kissing may reduce stress enough to positively impact other physical and mental health components, like cholesterol and depression.

Although you shouldn't expect to burn as many calories from kissing as you would with a good gym workout, kissing can shed a few calories. University of Louisville professor Bryant Stamford tells WebMD, "During a really, really passionate kiss, you might burn two calories a minute — double your metabolic rate." Stamford adds that turning up the volume on a kiss could have a similar caloric burn as a brisk walk.

According to Healthline, the number of calories you burn when kissing depends on a few factors, like your age, weight, biological sex, and the intensity of the kiss. With really passionate kissing, it may be possible to burn as many as 26 calories per minute. Basically, the more you move during a kiss, the more you can burn. So, if you want to maximize the caloric burn of a kiss, using your hands to explore a partner or making out might prove to be more beneficial than a simple peck or two.

Some of the good-for-you benefits of kissing can happen when kissing loved ones other than a romantic partner, too, like lowering stress and strengthening bonds. Still, as kissable as adorable baby cheeks are, it's important to show caution when getting too close. Kissing a baby can be dangerous for them and their immature immune systems.

According to Women & Infants, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious respiratory virus caused by physical contact with someone carrying the virus, and kissing is an easy way to spread it. The CDC adds that babies six months or younger are especially susceptible to developing severe symptoms from RSV, as are premature babies and children with weakened immune systems. Severe RSV can lead to complications like pneumonia and respiratory inflammation.

One of the best ways to keep babies safe from RSV is to keep them away from sick people and wash your hands frequently, especially before holding a baby. And of course, be careful about kissing. "Spread of infection through kissing depends on a number of factors, such as where the baby was kissed — near her mouth or nose is worse than on her feet, and kisses on fingers are also worse, as babies can suck their fingers," pediatrician Hansa Bhargava tells WebMD, who added that there's minimal risk in kissing a baby's feet (and that kissing babies is a no-no for sick people).