Let’s Get Personal

This month, I’m writing about a fond and familiar activity that poses a hidden health risk! I’m sure many of you will be shocked to hear that kissing can be quite the dangerous endeavor! Regretfully, this is not a romantic article - but this really is not a romantic topic. Picture this: you’re standing outside your front door, you just had an absolutely magical evening, your gorgeous date leans in for the kiss and you turn and say, “But honey, you didn’t brush your teeth!” I mean come ON, who wants that? But it’s much better than the alternative - having a gluten-accident because of a kiss! Remember: gluten, generally, cannot be absorbed through the skin*, but mouth-to-mouth contact IS, unfortunately, a way to end up accidentally ingesting some. 

So what do you do? Well, the easiest thing is to get your date on the gluten-free program and then you’re home free**! “Haha,” you chuckle, “But Kelsey, that’s just ridiculous! I barely know the person, I can’t ask them to change their entire lifestyle just to date me - talk about high maintenance!” This is true, so onto Plan B: invest in toothbrushes  and buy in bulk - carry a toothbrush with you in your purse or man-bag -- not glamorous, I know, but so helpful. Not amused? Fortunately, there’s this cool new (gluten-free!) product by Colgate called the Wisp that has a seriously practical application for all of us celiacs and gluten-intolerants! Basically, its a pre-pasted, single-use mini-toothbrush! It can sit in your purse right next to your lip gloss, or in your pocket next to your cell phone, to throw at your date on the way home. 

Oh, and one more thing -  not to freak you out, but in theory, you could definitely end up with gluten from a lifeguard of EMT that performed CPR too soon after lunch - scary, right?

Unless you have Dermatitis Herpetiformis, like me, in which case you should be really careful about physical contact and gluten-containing cosmetics! 

**does not guard against garlic breath, sorry.

If you have any questions, comments or ideas of your own - let me know! Feel free to contact me at this link.

- Kelsey Ganes, University of Washington student

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