So, what are dental dams? How do they help stop STIs spreading? What STIs are you at risk of catching if you don’t use dental dams?Īnd where can you get your hands on these latex gems? Dental dams (Creative Commons) What are dental dams?Ī dental dam is a latex or polyurethane square, around 15cm by 15cm in size, which can be used to cover the anus or a woman’s genitals during oral sex.Īccording to the NHS, a dental dam “acts as a barrier to help prevent sexually transmitted infections passing from one person to another.”ĭental dams were originally made for dentistry, and are used to protect the mouth when work is being done on an isolated tooth.
