Danger of infection when kissing | Aphtae – How contagious are aphthae?

Danger of infection when kissing

Can one become infected with aphthae by kissing? Aphthae are mainly found in the throat, tongue and oral mucosa. As small white dots, they not only cause pain, but are also very unsightly.

If you want to kiss your partner, an aphtha can be an unpleasant obstacle, because you are ashamed and fear that you will “infect” your partner with aphthae through the exchange of saliva. There is no direct pathogen that causes aphthae in the body, so there is no risk of infection when kissing. Aphthae are not contagious.

Aphthae arise from the inside of the body, due to a genetic disposition, a weakened immune system, as a concomitant of another disease or due to a lack of vitamin B, C or zinc. However, it should be noted that aphthae can occur as concomitants of various diseases, so that the pathogen can be transmitted through saliva. Whether an aphthae develops depends on the respective immune system, because every body reacts differently to an external pathogen. Aphthae can be unpleasant when kissing not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also cause pain, as aphthae are very sensitive to touch.

Classification of the aphthae

In general, a distinction is made between small (minor form) and large (major form) bubbles. The size of such a small aphthae is less than one centimeter in diameter. Small aphthae usually heal completely within one to two weeks.

Large aphthae, on the other hand, can reach a size of several centimetres in circumference. The healing time of large aphthae usually takes several weeks to months. However, the intensity of pain of such a mucosal blister does not correlate with its size.

Rather, the exact localisation of the aphtae is decisive for its impairment of the patient. Particularly in mechanically stressed regions (for example the inner side of the lip or the tongue) the blisters are felt to be particularly painful. Affected patients often report that they feel particularly unpleasant.

In addition, acidic foods and/or drinks in particular can additionally irritate the inflamed blisters and sometimes cause severe pain. Tea tree oil solutions can be used to treat the mucous membrane blisters. In addition, many affected persons find the application of anti-inflammatory lemon balm extract and the use of chamomile or sage tea rinses enormously soothing. – Speaking

  • Food intake
  • Ingestion of saliva or water