Why do we kiss?

The scientific study of kissing is known as philematology. Research shows that a variety of different
muscles are used including facial and postural.

The orbicularis oris being the main skeletal muscle involved. Simple kisses use as few as 2 muscles and
burn only 2 to 3 calories, whereas passionate kissing can involve as many as 23 to 34 facial muscles and
112 postural muscles. The act of kissing consumes between 5 and 26 calories per minute.

During kissing, couples exchange an average of 9 mL of water, 0.7 mg of protein, 0.18 mg of organic
compounds, 0.71 mg of different fats, and 0.45 mg of sodium chloride. As many as 10 million to 1 billion
bacteria representing 278 different species may be exchanged during an active kiss, with 95% of these
organisms classified as nonpathogenic for individuals who are immunologically competent.[1]

The evolution of kissing begins with primates creating the original baby food by first chewing it and then
spitting it into the mouths of their offspring. Overtime kissing became a way to pass on biological
information about healthiness of the potential mate, as well as a bonding ritual, with the goal being
procreation and continuity of one’s genes.

With the kiss, partners are able to get close enough to each other to assess essential characteristics about
each other, none of which are consciously processed. Although the vomeronasal organs which are
considered vestigial organs in humans are responsible for the detection of pheromones, research does
indicate that we do communicate with chemicals.

In a research study women smelled t-shirts of various men and pick their favourite. What was found was
that the choice the females made was based on histo-compatibility complex (MHC), specifically the more
different the genes were the more likely the women were to like the way the man’s shirt smelled. This is
relevant because the more different the genes of mates are, the better the potential for healthy offspring.

Women are far more choosy than men in terms of partners, and it is theorized that the reason for this is
that women were looking for a healthy partner to have offspring with and protect and raise their children.
Kissing allows a woman to check for immune and genetic compatibility prior to investing time or energy.
Research finds that most men will have sex with a woman without kissing or and regardless of how well
she kisses. On the other hand most women will not have sex without kissing first and the quality of
kissing is relevant to engaging in sex.

The reason men initiate French kissing according to research because saliva contains testosterone and
thereby increases the sex drive of their mate. In addition tongue to tongue kissing allows a man to assess a
woman’s estrogen level and predict her fertility.[2]

“There is evidence that saliva has testosterone in it,” said Rutgers University anthropologist Helen Fisher,
“and testosterone increases sex drive. And there is evidence that men like sloppier kisses with more open
mouth. That suggests they are unconsciously trying to transfer testosterone to stimulate sex drive in
women.” [3]

Hormone levels change after kissing. Specifically cortisol (stress) levels decreased in men and women
after kissing, and the longer a couple is together the lower their stress hormones get. Interestingly
oxytocin levels increase in men, however women’s levels decreased. One theory is that women need more
than a kiss to stimulate attachment and bonding. The act of kissing raises a person’s dopamine which in
turn raises the oxytocin level promoting bonding.

Finally additional benefits include cardiovascular protection via a rise in blood pressure, prevention of
tooth decay via an increase in saliva, in addition men who kiss their wives before heading off to work
make more money.

Natalie Engelbrecht