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What's a Dental Dam?

What's a dental dam?
– Maria*

A dental dam is a square piece of stretchy latex or a similar material. It is placed over a woman's genitals when she receives oral sex. Oral sex is a sexual act where someone's mouth touches the other person's genitals. Genitals are the sexual or reproductive organs that are on the outside of the body (the testicles and penis of a guy, or the labia, clitoris, and vagina of a girl.) A dental dam helps prevent the spread of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).

If a guy is receiving oral sex, he should wear a condom to prevent the spread of STDs.

You can buy dental dams online and at some drugstores. Some sexual health clinics have them available for free.

*Names are changed to protect user privacy.

Reviewed by: Robyn R. Miller, MD
Date Reviewed: Oct 1, 2018

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