From besos to bisous, snog to smooch: A celebration of International Kissing Day

Breaking down the numbers, one kiss at a time

What’s the best part about kissing? There’s no one way to go about it! And, there’s no one right way to do it, either. Let’s first take a look at what it takes the body to kiss: According to a study, one kiss requires the coordination of 146 muscles, including 34 facial muscles.[2] Kissing mostly involves the orbicularis oris, also known as the muscle around your mouth. Of course, your lips play a major role in kissing, too. They’re uber sensitive – 10,000 nerve endings sensitive. That’s more than the clitoris, which only has 8,000.[3] So, with all of these muscles and nerves on your side, there’s no need to worry about how to kiss. Your kiss is unique to you, and that’s what makes your partner enjoy kissing you most. Remember: all that matters is that you and your partner feel good about it and only do what you want to do. From there, just trust your gut and enjoy the moment. Your lips will thank you either way.

Have you ever heard the phrase: ‘you need to kiss a few frogs to find your prince’? Research seems to support this theory! According to a UK study, a woman will kiss 15 people before meeting “the one”.[4] For men it’s not that different – the average man will kiss 16 people before meeting the one. Did you fall in love with your first kiss? Have you lost count of frogs? Or maybe you’re concerned you haven’t had your first kiss yet? The good news is, there’s no “perfect timing” for your first kiss, or “perfect number” of kisses, for that matter! Only you get to decide if and when to kiss someone. Let’s look at the figures: 70% of people aged 16 to 24 years had their first kiss by age 15.[5] When the parents of these 16- to 24-year-olds were asked the same question, only 46% of them had smooched by the same age. Outracing our parents, are we? This just goes to show how much more open-minded the world has become. However, at the same time, it’s important to be aware that this is not the case all across the globe. In some countries you are not allowed to kiss in public. Or, sometimes you might meet someone who tries to kiss you when you don’t want to. That’s why it’s so important to trust your instincts, get to know your partner, stay in control of what you want and communicate that you both want the same thing, and when you do – do so safely, and always with protection.