Should You Be Talking about Sex with Your Dentist?
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The Doctors welcome dentist Dr. Chris Strandburg to discuss why experts are saying dentists should be talking about sex with their patients due to the link between mouth and throat cancers and human papillomavirus virus (HPV).
Watch: Can you Contract Herpes at the Gym?
Dr. Strandburg acknowledges having a discussion about your sex life with someone who cares for your teeth might be awkward but says it is important. He notes that HPV is the number one cause of oral cancer, and he feels having that discussion is imperative. He explains that the most common manifestation of HPV is a wart in the mouth.
Watch: Why You Should Worry about HPV
Dr. Strandburg says that dentists can also speak to their patients about sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, syphilis, and herpes, which can all be transferred via the mouth.
ER physician Dr. Travis Stork adds, "Oral health [is] connected to overall health," encouraging everyone to speak to their dentists about having a comprehensive oral exam.
