KISSING FACTS
Kissing is far more than a simple science. Just as no two people are alike, so are no two kisses alike. Like snowflakes, each one is different from the one before and the one after. Kissing dad and grandma signifies familial affection. Kissing the rings of kings and popes and mafia lords illustrates reverence. And while kissing can also symbolize betrayal (Judas) and transformation, (that lucky frog prince), it’s watching Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst smooch it up in Spiderman that shows off kissing at its best.
Experts believe the urge to lock lips is innate and crosses species. Elephants stick their trunks in each other’s mouth and birds tap their bills together. Canadian porcupines kiss each other on the lips and chimpanzees swap saliva and tongue in their version of French kissing. Yet historians believe that only a fraction of humans kissed before Roman times.
A huge amount of the brain is devoted to sensory stimulation around the mouth. That’s why you can get stabbed in the back and feel only a thump at first, but a little bit of good kissing around the mouth and you feel the intensity at once. When you kiss someone, you receive an enormous amount of information about him or her. In fact, our brains are equipped with neurons that help us find our lover’s lips in the dark. No wonder so many couples enjoy kissing at the movies.
The area around the nose and under the eyes produces oils and musks and a unique chemical smell. That explains why the Eskimos, Polynesians, and Malaysians rub noses. They are actually smelling each other, determining who they are and the state of their health.
Aside from the delicious experience of making you feel weak-kneed, kissing is actually beneficial for your health. When practiced correctly (!) it helps to reduce dermatitis, skin rashes, and blemishes. Kissing makes your skin glow and your eyes shine. Because it encourages saliva to wash away food from your teeth, it lowers the level of the acid that causes tooth decay, preventing plaque build up. And research reveals kissing has even been shown to relieve headaches. Rarely is something that feels so good so good for you!
