Almost every mama I know, including myself, has at one time or another done one of the following:

• Shared a spoon or other eating utensil with her baby.
• Used her mouth to clean off a pacifier.
• Or swapped spit in some other way - shared toothbrushes, bites off the same food item, etc.

Now which of the above is safe to do? NONE of them!

Mama spit is far more germ ridden than baby spit, and swapping spit leads those germs to take up residence in your baby’s mouth. Anything that has saliva on it can spread bacteria and germs. Even kissing your baby on the mouth can be risky in this respect.

Should you freak? No; just use precautions:

• Brush and floss your own teeth.
• Take care of your little one’s mouth health.
• Don’t share food, utensils, or other objects that might have been in your mouth.