Everything You'll Ever Need To Know About Kissing

Just pucker your lips like this…

1. Kissing affects all five of your senses...

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Taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing.

2. ...which is why you may see fireworks!

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Kissing causes physical changes to your body. Your heart beats faster, your pupils dilate, and the rush of blood may leave you feeling dizzy and giddy. This is cause by the billions of nerves around your body all rushing to convey information to your brain about the kiss.

3. This is caused partly by the chemicals dopamine and oxytocin.

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AKA the body's reward neurotransmitter ("Hey – you're doing something right… Keep doing that!") and the cuddle hormone ("Omg… This person is amazing. Don't you totally love them?).

4. Male saliva contains testosterone.

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#YesAllMen.

It's thought that this chemical burst increases their partner's sex drive. Which is one of the reasons why kissing gets you in the mood.

5. Which is why men prefer their kisses 33% wetter and with 11% more tongue.

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6. 90% of human cultures kiss.

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In cultures where kissing doesn't exist, you may have to settle for bae trying to suck, rub, blow, or lick your face instead.

7. Your ancestors used kissing to assess mate quality.

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When you go for that first kiss, remember that they're using the way you taste and smell to work out if you're genetically compatible.

8. In general, women place more importance on kissing than men do.

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Women tend to see kissing as a bonding tool, while men see it as a prelude to sex.

9. 90% of women wouldn't have sex with someone that they haven't kissed.

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Whereas 50% of men still would.

10. 59% of men and 66% of women have lost attraction in a potential partner after unfavourable kisses.

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11. Kissing can transfer 80 million new bacteria in to your mouth.

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Bleurgh.

12. Kissing someone (on the cheek) is healthier than shaking their hand.

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But far less socially acceptable... So stick to sniffing butts like dogs do.

13. Humans aren't the only animals that kiss.

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Chimpanzees and other primates like to pucker up too.

14. Good-looking people kiss more.

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Kissing is basically a mate audition, and the more "desirable" you are, the more applicants you'll have for people who want to be your kiss partner. Also, as it's a bonding tool, your partner is more likely to snog you loads in the hope that you'll keep them around.

15. Kissing keeps your teeth clean.

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Because it increases the amount of saliva being washed round your mouth, teeth, and gums.

16. Twice as many people turn their head to the right when kissing.

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17. Kissing activates the same pleasure areas of the brain as eating chocolate.

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According to University of Sussex researchers, who seem to have the best job ever.

18. Kissing reduces stress.

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Because your body is releasing all that dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins with each smooch.

19. But a bad kiss is physically stressful.

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It actually makes your body release the stress hormone cortisol.

20. You never forget your first kiss.

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Butler University researchers found that your first kiss is the memory you're least likely to forget.

Love kissing? Find out more about Dentyl Active and make your mouth happy and your sink sorry!

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