No mistletoe kisses for perio patients

The holidays offer dentists another opportunity to warn patients about the consequences of candy and soda overdoses -- but exchanging kisses underneath the mistletoe, too?

That's right. It is possible to swap up to 500 different species of germs, including those that cause gum disease, because of this holiday tradition, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

"With just one kiss, this infection can be passed between couples and even to children," said AGD spokesperson Lawrence Bailey, D.D.S., in a press release. "In the spirit of the season, folks with gum disease should refrain from kissing under the mistletoe."

Sounds like an effective argument for getting some patients back in the dentist's chair.