80 million bacteria are transferred during 10 second kisses

According to research led by Remco Kort of the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, a single 10 second kiss transfers 80 million oral bacteria.

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Keep in mind that over 100 trillion microorganisms - called the micobiome - naturally occur in our bodies, and the average mouth is host to 700 varieties of bacteria. Still, 80 million sounds like a stomach-turning number of bacteria to most people.

So what does this all mean? Put simply: the more often a couple kisses intimately, the more similar they are in terms of oral microbiota.

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Now there is a difference between saliva and tongue bacteria in terms of bacteria transfer. Specifically, tongue bacteria is more similar among partners but that's not due to more frequent kissing. Saliva bacteria, on the other hand, is definitely impacted by more frequent kissing.

Fortunately, the bacteria found in saliva are eventually washed out. Unfortunately, tongue bacteria is not so easily removed. In fact, microbiota "on the tongue's surface found a true niche, allowing long-term colonization" (Medical News Today).

It's a party in your mouth!

Talk about attractive! If nothing else, hopefully this new research will reach that one especially intimate couple we all seem to know. Mouthwash, anyone?