The recurring issue that I have had with dental dams in the past is that their taste was so distracting that it made oral sex simply not worth it. The flavors have all been so foul that I have been unable to concentrate on satisfying my partner, and furthermore oral turns into a chore rather than a pleasure. This is not how sex of any kind should be! For casual partners that have not recently been tested, non-microwavable (and it MUST be non-microwavable!) cellophane has always been my protection of choice, but cellophane has the tedious inclination toward sticking to itself. There's nothing less sexy than abruptly interrupting oral once you've finally gotten a steady rhythm and good momentum going to peel Saran wrap off itself ("Do you have nails? My nails are too short, I can't get it...")

This is the unpleasant pickle I have been in for the past few years, until I picked some of these up on a whim at a free clinic. These dams have now replaced both cellophane and all other dams for myself and I recommend them first and almost exclusively to all of my friends. These dams come in five flavors, all of which I enjoy and include grape, strawberry, mint, banana and vanilla. Vanilla is easily my favorite and the most popular among my friends, so if you're skeptical I would recommend that one to start. I have not been able to find a list of ingredients for these dams, so I am not sure if those with food allergies (to banana, for example) can use these, but to be on the safe side I will not recommend these for those with food allergies.

These 8"x6" dams are made from latex, which means that those with allergies should steer clear. Silicone dental dams are made for those with latex allergies, however, so don't get too down and out about it! This also means you should avoid oil based lubricants as it can weaken the material; please stick to silicone or water based ones instead. These do not come lubricated so you have some options to play with: by applying a little lubricant to the anus or vulva of your partner before placing the dam over it, friction can be reduced and the sensation of saliva somewhat simulated. However, some may prefer no lubricant as they enjoy the increased friction, so try experimenting! Dams can get slippery when lubricant comes into the mix, so make sure you or your partner has a good grip on them at all times. Some dams have adhesive strips to help with this, however these dams do not. If you use dental dams frequently, you may want to consider investing in a dental dam harness, which holds the sheet in place for you.

The one disadvantage of unlubricated dams is that they may require rinsing first; it seems that to avoid dams becoming sticky during storage many companies apply a non-toxic powder to them. It will not harm you to ingest the trace amounts of this remaining on the dams, but it's also not terribly pleasant. For this reason give your little latex friend a quick splash under the sink before use. Remember that when using this dental dam or any other you must pick one side to make genital contact and another to make oral contact; do not switch sides during sex. These dams are disposable, which means they are intended for a single use and are not sterilizable. Once the dam has been used on a partner you should not use it on yourself or any other partner. Due to the single-use property of these dams, $1.99 per dam is not really a great value. However, when it comes to preventing harmful infections and possibly even deadly disease, the price becomes secondary.

Please check your dams before using. Just like condoms, dams can tear, so by holding a yours up to the light you can check for perforations. Remember that no contraceptive is 100% effective in all cases, but with proper use every time dental dams can greatly reduce the risk of the exchange of body fluids. Dental dams will also vary in efficacy depending on the amount of fluid your partner emits during sex, so it's important to talk your partners about how to negotiate around that issue. For example, I know that I can squirt copious amounts, so I usually only have a partner use a dam to get me warmed up. Make sure to talk about these things before you get into the heat of the moment so you can think clearly :)