Dental dams are small, thin, square pieces of latex that are used during oral-vaginal or oral-anal sex. Dental dams help reduce the risk of STD transmission during oral sex by keeping fluids that contain bacteria and viruses away from the mouth.
Like condoms, dental dams must be used correctly and consistently in order to be effective.
If you can’t find a dental dam at a store, follow these steps to make one out of a condom:
1: Always check the expiration date of the condom first to make sure it’s not old.
2: Open the condom – but not with your teeth!
3: Cut the tip off of the condom with scissors.
4: Next, cut down the side of the condom to make a flat piece of latex. You now have a dental dam.
5. When you use your dental dam, be sure to ONLY use one side. Don’t flip the dam over for another round because you will expose yourself to the very fluids you’re trying to avoid. Also, don’t reuse dental dams.
