Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundKissing is a common social behavior that may influence physiological responses and impact oral health. Prior research has shown that affectionate behaviors like kissing can reduce stress and improve relationship satisfaction. However, the effects of kissing on saliv...

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Main Authors: Marcelo Armijos Briones, Mariuxi Aguila Gaibor, Andrea Bermúdez Velásquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-07-01
Series:JMIR Research Protocols
Online Access:https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e65253
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author Marcelo Armijos Briones
Mariuxi Aguila Gaibor
Andrea Bermúdez Velásquez
author_facet Marcelo Armijos Briones
Mariuxi Aguila Gaibor
Andrea Bermúdez Velásquez
author_sort Marcelo Armijos Briones
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundKissing is a common social behavior that may influence physiological responses and impact oral health. Prior research has shown that affectionate behaviors like kissing can reduce stress and improve relationship satisfaction. However, the effects of kissing on salivary pH, particularly after consuming sugary or fermented beverages, have not been thoroughly investigated. ObjectiveThis study aims to determine whether kissing accelerates salivary pH recovery following the consumption of sugary or fermented beverages. MethodsA randomized controlled trial will be conducted with 60 couples aged 18-30 years. Participants will be divided into 3 groups: a control group (no kissing), an experimental group where one partner consumes a beverage, and another experimental group where both partners consume a beverage. The study will measure salivary pH at baseline, after beverage consumption, and following a 40-second kiss or control period, with measurements taken every 5 minutes until the pH returns to neutral levels. The data will be analyzed using SPSS software (IBM Corporation). ANOVA will be used to compare salivary pH recovery between groups, and if assumptions of normality or sphericity are not met, alternative models such as generalized linear models or nonparametric tests will be considered. ResultsThe study is ongoing, with participant recruitment already initiated and preliminary data collection in progress. The study was funded by the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil from June 2024 to June 2025. Ethics approval was obtained in June 2023. The results are expected to be published in the last quarter of 2025. ConclusionsThis study will provide insights into the relationship between kissing, salivary pH, and oral health, potentially offering new strategies for the prevention of dental caries. The results may challenge existing assumptions about the role of kissing in oral health. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06501729; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06501729 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/65253
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spelling doaj-art-48c7694652ca4eafb680fb7af5d8d7f12025-08-20T03:51:02ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-07-0114e6525310.2196/65253Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical TrialMarcelo Armijos Brioneshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5500-4768Mariuxi Aguila Gaiborhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-4853-3926Andrea Bermúdez Velásquezhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2835-5247 BackgroundKissing is a common social behavior that may influence physiological responses and impact oral health. Prior research has shown that affectionate behaviors like kissing can reduce stress and improve relationship satisfaction. However, the effects of kissing on salivary pH, particularly after consuming sugary or fermented beverages, have not been thoroughly investigated. ObjectiveThis study aims to determine whether kissing accelerates salivary pH recovery following the consumption of sugary or fermented beverages. MethodsA randomized controlled trial will be conducted with 60 couples aged 18-30 years. Participants will be divided into 3 groups: a control group (no kissing), an experimental group where one partner consumes a beverage, and another experimental group where both partners consume a beverage. The study will measure salivary pH at baseline, after beverage consumption, and following a 40-second kiss or control period, with measurements taken every 5 minutes until the pH returns to neutral levels. The data will be analyzed using SPSS software (IBM Corporation). ANOVA will be used to compare salivary pH recovery between groups, and if assumptions of normality or sphericity are not met, alternative models such as generalized linear models or nonparametric tests will be considered. ResultsThe study is ongoing, with participant recruitment already initiated and preliminary data collection in progress. The study was funded by the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil from June 2024 to June 2025. Ethics approval was obtained in June 2023. The results are expected to be published in the last quarter of 2025. ConclusionsThis study will provide insights into the relationship between kissing, salivary pH, and oral health, potentially offering new strategies for the prevention of dental caries. The results may challenge existing assumptions about the role of kissing in oral health. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06501729; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06501729 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/65253https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e65253
spellingShingle Marcelo Armijos Briones
Mariuxi Aguila Gaibor
Andrea Bermúdez Velásquez
Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
JMIR Research Protocols
title Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
title_full Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
title_fullStr Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
title_full_unstemmed Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
title_short Kissing as a Protective Factor Against Decreased Salivary pH: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
title_sort kissing as a protective factor against decreased salivary ph protocol for a randomized clinical trial
url https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e65253
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