Kissing - unhygienic?

LegacyUser

Hi, I'm 20 I have had pleanty of luck with men although never went further than a kiss. Not that that really bothers me, my problem is i've been out of a serious relationship over a year now. When out, I rejected mens advances up until I met a guy last week. We hung out last night and we kissed at the time it felt right but when I got home, I scrubbed my teeth for a good 15 minutes and I still don't feel clean. there was nothing wrong with him, I just don't feel clean and I dont think I could kiss someone again. I have started becoming a bit of a clean freak but nothing excessive, but is this kissing thing just strange? or just because I havent been out in so long? I know it doesnt seem like a big deal but I want to see him again but the thought of having to switch saliva just makes me feel sick.

neuro-praxis

Go to your doctor and talk about this. Of course no-one can diagnose online but it sounds like obsessive compulsive disorder is taking root in you. Kissing is not unhygienic and is an important part of showing your love and affection for your partner. If you do not deal with this problem, it will escalate.

My name is URL

weird? wrote: »

I have started becoming a bit of a clean freak but nothing excessive....

.... when I got home, I scrubbed my teeth for a good 15 minutes and I still don't feel clean.

Denial?

It does sound like OCD in fairness, go see a doc as neuro-praxis said.

workaccount

Hi,
Of course kissing is unhygenic to a certain extent but what are you afraid of really? I don't know anybody that's ever got anything from someone other than a cold sore once. So it is actually quite safe!

I go through stages of being a clean freak every now and again where I become really concious that maybe other people don't wash their hands after using the toilet etc. and that there is basically their **** on the handles of the doors. It's quite normal to not want to put your hands that you eat your food with on other peoples waste.

I think the culture in Ireland is basically go out and get pissed and then slober some person of the opposite sex or even worse go back to their house and have a one night stand. I would prefer to know a little about the person before I get to know them in that way. ie. even something as small as kissing. I do find though that you can tell alot about a person often just buy talking to them. If a person has respect for themselves then there is a good chance they look after their health generally, keep themselves clean etc.

Does that help you in anyway? ie. If you knew that the person looked after themselves and kept themselves clean would that make you be a little bit more "ok" with kissing?

Latchy

Sounds very OCD but as other poster said ,kissing is just an extention of other physical contact ie, shaking hands , hugging , except your using mouth to mouth .Obiously if the person you were going to kiss had very bad mouth hygeine it would be off putting .But in general, millions do it every day without a second thought so wouldn't worry to much about it.

abouttobebanned

Hi OP, I think you need to look at why you're feeling this way. Do you act like this in any other part of your life i.e. do you wash your face and hands a couple of times a day? Do you clean things before you touch them? Do you smell all your food before you eat it?

People all over the world kiss, so you know that it's normal. Believe me, when you get passed kissing you'll enter a whole other world of unhygeniec activity - and it's great!

Get to the bottom of this cause otherwise you're going to miss out on a lot of fun and enjoyment in the future.

LegacyUser

Thanks all, I think OCD is a bit extreme, as it hasn't impacted my life to a big extent as of yet. i understand kissing is a part of showing love and affection to a partner and people do it every day but I think what scares me is the thought of diseases, I have very important exams coming up and I cannot afford to be sick for them. I know this guy is clean and looks after himself but what I am worried about is maybe he has caught something somewhere throught his day and has passed it on to me. you know the way some people don't wash their hands, cough and sneeze without covering their mouths or using tissues. I've carry a small bottle of hand disinfectant with me while out, not because I need to but just for precaution. I have kissed many people before which is why im confused as to why i'm so scared today after kissing someone last night. I never felt this before and I want to see him again but I feel sick when I think that I have someone elses germs inside me. I know I am not germ free myself, its impossible to be 100% germ free but at least I know I take precautions to prevent this.

abouttobebanned

I'm afraid it is OCD to be honest. The worst you could get really is a coldsore and I don't that will interfere with your exams.

Believe me, you can't live your live being cautious of everything - If you did you'd never want to leave your house.

Nervous Wreck

weird? wrote: »

I have kissed many people before which is why im confused as to why i'm so scared today after kissing someone last night. I never felt this before

Hmmm, then it seems your issue is not with germs at all but rather some hang-up about getting close to someone after so long of being alone. You're using your already present clean-freakiness as an excuse to not open yourself up to a new romantic relationship. It's not that you feel unclean physically, it's that you're allowing yourself to feel 'dirty' emotionally.

Or I'm way off.