What Is a Dental Dam & Why Should I Use One?

Are you having safer oral sex? Do you know what that looks like? There’s a high chance that you probably don’t because we have almost never been shown or taught barrier protection negotiations before oral sex.

From the moment we start learning about sex and sexual health, the advice we receive is usually centred around not getting pregnant as opposed to not getting an STI. Due to the heteronormative societal views of sex and sex education, the advice normally boils down to; “use a condom”. If you look at the marketing around safe sex, it is almost always about condoms and the penis which has resulted in a huge disparity between the use and knowledge of condoms vs that of dental dams. It can even be seen in the innovations and new designs of condoms we have seen in recent years, compared to virtually none when it comes to dental dams.

So, if you want to have safer oral sex read on to learn more about the dental dam.

What are dental dams?

Dental dams are thin, flexible sheets of latex, kind of like an open condom, that are used as a barrier between the mouth and the anus or the vulva during oral sex. They work by stopping bodily fluids entering your mouth and therefore help to reduce the transmission of STIs during oral sex.

Why should I use a dental dam?

Even though its less likely to transmit an STI through oral sex, it’s still possible. Oral sex can transmit herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, hepatitis, and genital warts, and most of us have no idea. So if you want to protect yourself from contracting an STI, use a dam.

How to use a dental dam

Like condoms, dental dams must be used correctly and consistently in order to be effective.

First of all, when removing the dental dam from it’s packaging you should check that it is in good condition with no holes or tears etc. Then stretch it over the genitals or anus of the person receiving oral sex and go to town! Remember to only use one side of the dental dam and don’t re-use it on another person (surely this goes without saying) or another part of the body (i.e. don’t use it on someone’s anus and then afterwards on their vulva) without changing it. Dental dams, like condoms, are one time use only!

Top tip - if you want to make it feel even better for the person receiving you can use some lube underneath the dental dam.

Where to buy dental dams

You can buy dental dams in many of the same places you get condoms such as drugstores, sex shops and online. You can also check out the sexual health clinics in your area to see if they offer them for free. Just like condoms, they come in a variety of sizes and flavours so be sure to check out what is on offer.

Make your own dental dams

If you don't have a dental dam to hand you can make a DIY one out of a condom, a femidom, a latex glove or even some saran wrap / cling film. If you’re using a condom, simply snip off the end and cut up the condoms lengthways leaving you with a square piece of latex. If you’re using saran wrap, simply cut out a square shape and use this.

Watch dental dams being used in real life

Watch Kali & Katana’s free Lust Ed video to safer vulva & vulva sex on Lust Zine to learn more about dental dams and then see how they're used in practice during their very sexy explicit demonstration.

Watch, learn, and then go forth and practice! Because safer sex is greater sex.