Pull the piece out of the protective envelope.

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It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. A dental dam is a square, stretchy sheet made from latex or polyurethane plastic. "A dental dam is simply a rectangular piece of latex that is used to cover the genitals so there is no direct mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-anus contact," says Castellanos. You can use plastic wrap in a pinch, but keep in mind it’s not at all intended for this purpose. It is also possible to catch pubic lice from a partner, even while using a dental dam.Depending on the type of contact, it is possible to get an STI infection in the throat, mouth, anus, rectum, genitals, or even the urinary tract.Often, a person with an STI in their throat or mouth does not have any symptoms other than a Dental dams are easy to use. During oral-anal sex or rimming (also called anilingus,) place the dental dam between your mouth and the anus. You can actually make your own dental dams at home (unlike condoms which should never be made from plastic wrap.)

Sometimes termed "Kofferdam"—from German), it was designed in the United States in 1864 by Sanford Christie Barnum. They are used to keep the operative site clean and dry. These products can be effective in helping to prevent most types of sexually transmitted diseases. By using Verywell Health, you accept our

You may be able to buy dental dams at your pharmacy or may need to look for them online. All rights reserved. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only.

it blocks fluids that can spread sexually transmitted diseases (stds). Dental dams were originally developed as a medical device that was used by dentists. It’s possible to get or transmit STIs through oral sex as well. The thicker material may also reduce pleasure.

It is possible to pass a sexually transmitted infection to a partner through oral-genital or oral-anal sex. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Follow the same how-to-use process as you would for a store-bought dam.Absolutely not. If you can't find dental dams at your local store, or if they cost too much, there's good news. Some dental dams are flavored.People can transmit several STIs during oral sex, including:There is little research on how effective dental dams are but, similarly to condoms, people must use them properly and consistently for full protection.It is possible to transmit other infections, such as A person can contract genital herpes from having oral sex with a partner who has the infection if they have not entirely covered the outbreak or lesion. In order to use a dental dam properly and reduce your risk of STDs as much as possible, follow these tips:

Keep in mind that many STDs can cause damage even if you don't have any symptoms. STDs that may be transmitted via oral sex include: You can buy dental dams at some drugstores (they should be located in the You can also make your own dental dam (though smaller) at home by using a condom. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. To do this, simply tear a piece of plastic wrap that’s large enough to cover the vaginal or anal area.

Department of Veterans Affairs: "Tips for using condoms and dental dams. In learning about dental dams, you may be wondering how often these infections are transmitted through oral sex.